Crafting a Personal Leadership Mission Statement
Crafting Your Personal Leadership Mission Statement
Prepared for Leaders by Pastor David Blunt
The differences between a leadership mission and a vision statement:
Time Frame: Mission is about the present and immediate actions; vision is about long-term aspirations and future impact.
Content: Mission includes guiding principles, concrete actions, and responsibilities; vision includes broad goals and an inspirational future state.
Purpose: Mission guides daily behavior and decision-making; vision motivates and inspires toward future achievements.
Focus: Mission is internally focused on what you do; vision is externally focused on the impact you want to create. Both statements are essential for effective leadership, providing clarity, direction, and motivation for you and your team.
Introduction
A personal leadership mission statement defines your purpose, the principles that guide your actions, and the impact you aim to make. This worksheet will help you create a clear, concise, and powerful mission statement that reflects your leadership philosophy and goals.
Section 1: Self-Reflection
Purpose: To gain insight into your values, strengths, and passions.
Questions for Reflection:
What are your core values? (e.g., integrity, empathy, innovation)
What are your key strengths and skills?
What are you most passionate about in your leadership role?
Action Steps:
Write down your top three core values.
List your key strengths and skills.
Identify your leadership passions and interests.
Section 2: Defining Your Leadership Purpose
Purpose: To articulate the core purpose of your leadership.
Questions for Reflection:
Why do you want to be a leader?
What do you hope to achieve through your leadership?
How do you want to impact your team and organization?
Action Steps:
Write a brief statement about why you want to lead.
Define the primary goals you hope to achieve as a leader.
Describe the impact you want to have on your team and organization.
Section 3: Identifying Your Key Principles
Purpose: To determine the principles that will guide your leadership actions.
Questions for Reflection:
What guiding principles are most important to you as a leader? (e.g., fairness, transparency, accountability)
How do these principles influence your decision-making and interactions with others?
How will you demonstrate these principles in your daily leadership?
Action Steps:
List your top guiding principles.
Reflect on how these principles shape your leadership.
Write down ways to demonstrate these principles daily.
Section 4: Crafting Your Mission Statement
Purpose: To combine your reflections into a concise and powerful mission statement.
Structure of a Mission Statement:
Core Purpose: Clearly state your leadership purpose.
Guiding Principles: Include the key principles that will guide your actions.
Impact: Outline the impact you aim to achieve.
Example Template:
"My mission is to [core purpose] by [specific actions or behaviors] guided
by [key principles]. I strive to [impact], creating [positive outcome] for [team/organization/
community]."
Action Steps:
Draft your personal leadership mission statement using the template.
Refine the statement for clarity and power.
Section 5: Making Your Mission Actionable
Purpose: To develop a plan for living out your mission statement.
Questions for Reflection:
What daily actions and behaviors align with your mission statement?
How will you communicate your mission to your team?
What resources and support do you need to fulfill your mission?
Action Steps:
Identify specific daily actions that reflect your mission.
Plan how you will share and reinforce your mission with your team.
List the resources and support systems you need to succeed.
Conclusion
Your personal leadership mission statement is a powerful tool to guide your actions, inspire your team, and achieve your goals. By reflecting on your values, defining your purpose, identifying your principles, and making your mission actionable, you can become a more effective and inspiring leader.
