True North of Your Career Search: Creating a Professional Mission Statement
Suzanne was accustomed to sweaty palms. Getting established on the speaker circuit, she hadn’t yet moved beyond stage fright. On one occasion, however, she was delighted to find her palms dry! What was the secret? Talking it over with her coach, she saw that her topic, and this particular audience, was precisely in line with her vision of her purpose, the reply to “why I’m here”. She had been true to her professional mission statement. The experience of being aligned in this way apparently left no room for self-consciousness or fear of rejection.Like Suzanne, taking the time to think about your answer to why you’re here on the planet – to articulate your mission statement – will serve you in many ways.Being in alignment As was true for Suzanne, when you’re doing a piece of work that’s in accordance with your mission, you may find you have such heartfelt connection with what you’re saying and the people you’re speaking to, that there is no room for self-consciousness or performance anxiety.Wellspring of energy and inspiration If you’re in the midst of a career search, a mission statement reminds you of the wellspring from which you draw energy and inspiration to find or create the work that’s right for you. It links together those times in your life when you’ve felt most vital and “on purpose”, restoring you in times of confusion or discouragement.Guidance for decision-making In practical terms, a mission statement will guide and corroborate your process of decision-making. Like the North Star, it’s a point of reference as you move through the stages of your search, helping prioritize the factors on your “want” list and sort through opportunities as they appear. It will support you in resisting what’s easy in favor of what’s important.The format of a mission statement A mission statement contains three elements: What is my purpose? Why, or to have what impact? On whom? (Individuals? Groups?)It completes this sentence: “I am here to _________ so that _____________ for _______________” .Examples: “I am here to promote justice so that there will be grea