Over the past ten weeks, I’ve been working with an individual through a personalized training program. Initially brought in to explore if coaching could help this newly promoted and inexperienced manager, their supervisor and I quickly determined that they needed a stronger foundation in supervisory skills rather than a focus on coaching alone.
We designed a Zoom-based training program, meeting every two weeks for two hours, covering a range of essential topics: Discovering Your Leadership Style & Becoming an Adaptive Leader; The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of Conflict and Finding Resolution; How to Make Effective Decisions and Avoid Backpedaling; Building High-Performance Work Teams That Matter; and finishing up with How to Motivate, Engage, and Retain Your Team.
We recently wrapped up the final session, but the foundational topic we started with—and one I highly recommend to every leader—is discovering your Leadership Mission Statement.
A Leadership Mission Statement is a concise declaration of purpose that defines your principal aim as a leader, reflects your core values, and inspires you to achieve extraordinary results. It provides clarity about what you do, who you serve, and why your work matters. As Tom Peters eloquently describes, it serves as a “compass in a wild and stormy sea.” Charles Garfield, author of Peak Performers, calls it “a beacon that keeps you on a critical path to where you are going.”
When developing your Leadership Mission Statement, consider the following key questions:
What: What needs does your organization fulfill, and how do you help meet them? Frame this in terms of the people you serve, rather than focusing solely on processes or products. Reflect on what sets you apart as a leader.
For Whom: Who are you serving? Your team? Your clients? A specific segment of society? Define your audience clearly.
How: How do you achieve your goals as a leader? Examples might include: Showing up consistently, prepared, and ready to lead; Creating innovative, practical solutions under pressure; Inspiring collaboration to achieve team and organizational goals; or Committing to continuous learning and self-improvement.
Why: Why do you lead? What motivates and inspires you? What is your purpose, and what drives you to excel in your role? Your “why” should resonate with your values and passion.
Once you’ve drafted your statement (sample statements at the end), use this checklist to ensure it meets the mark:
Provides Identity: Reflects who you are as a leader.
Defines Purpose: Clearly explains why you exist in your role.
States the Principal Aim: Highlights the core objective of your leadership.
Reflects Values: Aligns with what is important to you.
Inspires Action: Gives meaning and motivation to your work.
Is Clear and Understandable: Easy for others—and you—to grasp.
Is Concise: Brief enough to remember and reference.
Allows Flexibility: Can evolve as you grow and take on new challenges.
When developing your personal Leadership Mission Statement, I often encourage leaders to think outside of their immediate job and think about the greater mission of their leadership spread across their whole lives. What are they really trying to do? Products will change, processes will change and your job and company will change, but your leadership principles should be consistent, yet flexible. When helping leaders craft their mission, I often draw from Jim Collins' Hedgehog Concept from Good to Great:
What are you most passionate about?
What could you be the best in the world at?
What drives your economic engine?
Let’s take those dynamic, interlacing questions above a step further:
What are you most passionate about: Your passions fuel your leadership, providing the energy and drive to inspire others. To uncover these passions, think deeply about what excites and motivates you. Here are some examples to bring this to life:
Serving Others
Passion: Building an inclusive team culture where every voice is heard.
Application: Developing mentorship programs for junior employees, creating opportunities for growth and learning.
Example: Establishing a monthly “Team Talk” forum where employees discuss challenges, share ideas, and receive constructive feedback.
Saving the World
Passion: Contributing to a cause greater than yourself, such as sustainability or community development.
Application: Leading an initiative to reduce your organization’s carbon footprint or organizing volunteer days.
Example: Creating a green task force to reduce energy waste in your company, saving resources while making a tangible environmental impact.
Being a Metronome of Leadership
Passion: Providing stability and consistency to help others thrive.
Application: Being the calm, steady presence during high-stress situations.
Example: During a company-wide system outage, taking charge by clearly communicating updates, coordinating team efforts, and maintaining morale.
What could you be the best in the world at: This question helps you identify your unique strengths—the areas where your natural talents and dedication could set you apart. For example:
Exceptional Problem-Solving
Application: Turning chaotic projects into structured successes.
Example: Leading a team to troubleshoot a failing client project, identifying bottlenecks, reallocating resources, and successfully meeting the deadline.
Innovative Thinking
Application: Designing creative solutions that disrupt the status quo.
Example: Introducing a new hybrid working model that improves employee satisfaction while cutting operational costs.
Team Collaboration and Leadership
Application: Fostering high-performance teams that consistently deliver.
Example: Leading a multi-departmental team to launch a new product, ensuring seamless communication and resolving conflicts proactively.
Technical Mastery
Application: Excelling in a specific skill or domain where your expertise is unmatched.
Example: Becoming the go-to expert in data analytics within your organization, providing insights that drive major business decisions.
What drives your economic engine: Your economic engine focuses on identifying the activities or outcomes that generate sustainable success for you and your organization.
Delivering Value to Customers
Application: Understanding what your customers truly need and exceeding their expectations.
Example: Launching a customer loyalty program based on data-driven insights to boost repeat business.
Optimizing Efficiency
Application: Streamlining processes to save time and money.
Example: Implementing an automated inventory management system, reducing overhead costs by 20%.
Building Strategic Relationships
Application: Cultivating partnerships that create mutual growth.
Example: Collaborating with local businesses to co-market products, increasing visibility and revenue for both parties.
Scaling Expertise
Application: Turning your knowledge or service into scalable, repeatable models.
Example: Creating a training program based on your leadership philosophy and offering it as a subscription service to other organizations.
Answering these questions with specificity not only clarifies your leadership mission but also provides a roadmap for action. This reflection isn’t just about self-discovery—it’s about aligning your passions, strengths, and purpose to make a meaningful impact in your role as a leader.
As I worked with this individual on her mission statement, I also posed a critical question: Does your professional mission reflect the current needs and challenges of your new role? What about your future role? She needed to break out of her former role and its limitations and prepare to walk with confidence into her new role as a team leader.
As we approach 2025, I encourage you to ask yourself the same. The New Year brings new initiatives, fresh projects, and emerging challenges. Does your Leadership Mission Statement align with these shifts? Are there new players and collaborators depending on your leadership? What inspires you to get out of bed each morning and lead with purpose?
Your mission statement should be a living document—one that grows and evolves with you as a leader. See a few examples below:
The Mentor and Team Builder Leadership Mission Statement:
"My mission is to empower and develop individuals into high-performing, collaborative teams that drive organizational success. I am committed to creating a culture of trust, inclusivity, and continuous growth, where every team member feels valued and equipped to reach their full potential. By leading with empathy, fostering open communication, and serving as a mentor, I strive to inspire my team to achieve exceptional results while maintaining a work environment that prioritizes well-being and purpose."
The Innovator and Problem-Solver Leadership Mission Statement:
"My mission is to challenge the status quo by driving innovative solutions that address complex challenges and create sustainable value for my organization and the community. I aim to lead with curiosity, adaptability, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, fostering an environment where creativity thrives, and bold ideas are celebrated. By leveraging data-driven insights and empowering cross-functional collaboration, I aspire to lead transformative initiatives that leave a lasting impact."
The Visionary and Change Agent Leadership Mission Statement:
"My mission is to inspire and guide my organization through change by setting a clear vision and aligning resources to achieve our shared goals. I am passionate about creating opportunities for growth, tackling challenges with resilience, and building partnerships that strengthen our collective impact. With a focus on innovation, purpose, and a commitment to servant leadership, I aim to drive meaningful progress that benefits my team, stakeholders, and the broader community."