Mission Statement

• Write your mission statement by defining your company's purpose and fundamental reason for existing--what makes it unique and different from competitors and non-competitors alike. A mission statement is clear, precise, and consistent. A successful mission statement focuses on satisfying customer needs based on the organization's core purpose; it has the ability to motivate and inspire commitment from employees; it is clear and realistic; and it is specific, focused, and has impact. For example, Google's mission statement is, "To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."
  
  

SWOT Analysis

• The next step in strategic planing is doing SWOT analysis. SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. It is a strategic planning tool described by Gareth R. Jones and Jennifer M. Georges' book, "Contemporary Management," as "a planning exercise to identify strengths and weaknesses inside an organization and opportunities and threats in the environment." Identify and list the organization's qualities beneath each corresponding portion of the SWOT analysis.
  
  

Goals, Strategy, and Action Plan

• Next, create goals that support your Mission Statement. According to Jones and George, goal-setting theory stimulates high motivation and performance by establishing "specific and difficult goals."
  
  After your goals are set, create a strategy as a guide that corresponds with the organization's strengths and industry opportunities. According to Jones and George, a strategy is "a cluster of decisions about what goals to pursue, what actions to take, and how to use resources to achieve goals." A strategy reflects the mission statement in that it discusses the unique value of the organization in comparison to industry competitors. It also identifies trade-offs and what not to do. A strategy also drives improvement within the business by affirming the mission statement.
  
  Last, create an action plan for you and other employees that will achieve your goals. An action plan is a specific chronological outline that leads directly to the end goal. They can come in the form as schedules or timetables; if individuals are involved in the action plan, they should be named. Action plans help provide direction and focus to those involved in the strategic planning process. An action plan is supposed to provide clear and comprehensive steps; so, when reviewing an action plan make sure that each step is communicated in a very specific manner.