Mission statements to be put into practice

Organisations worldwide need to start putting their company mission statements into practice rather than simply paying lip service to their good intentions, says a leading attitude research specialist.

A survey by Sirota Survey Intelligence has revealed great employee scepticism about whether their organisation’s mission or vision statements are ever adhered to.

Says Nick Starritt, managing director of Sirota Europe: “These findings are a huge disappointment. Such statements can be enormously helpful to guide and inspire a workforce. They provide employees with both an overarching purpose for their individual efforts and basic decision making criteria.

“Companies such as IBM, Johnson & Johnson and Walt Disney are good examples of companies where employees feel very positive about the overall company statements - and it shows up in their level of commitment. But when they are seen as empty rhetoric, they do more harm than good.”