Why Mission Statements Matter - Your Career Intel

Why Mission Statements Matter - Your Career IntelDo you know your companys mission statement? Does your company even have a mission statement? Many people think of company mission statements as fluffy pieces of corporate jargon. But in reality, a mission statement is an incredibly powerful strategic tool for activating your employees.Ill admit that I wasnt fully aware of the power of mission statements until I attended a training session on the topic recently. During the session, teams were asked to create their own personal mission statements, starting with choosing five values that were most important to them. I thought this would be an exercise that employees would trudge through, but elendhing could have been further from the truth. I watched as people were completely engaged with the activity, and later I heard feedback from managers that the activity had led to a noticeable improvement in morale and performance, even weeks later.What is it about mission statements that help to bring out the best in employees? Research shows that there are three key areas where mission statements really help to transform the employee experience and ultimately drive productivityClarity in organizational values helps employees prioritize betterAnyone whos worked at a large company is probably familiar with the feeling of being instructed to achieve a set of objectives that are competing and maybe even conflicting. Different leaders and divisions have different priorities, and employees often find themselves caught in the middle, unsure whose goals to prioritize.When the entire organization is aligned to a clear set of written objectives that are visible to everyone, employees are better equipped to make the right decisions about how to allocate their time and effort. Managers are better able to set lower level objectives that support the overall goals of the company. Even the rank and file employees, when faced with a long list of to dos, will be able to choose which are mos t important based on the degree to which they support the mission.Perhaps most importantly, a clearly articulated mission statement helps employees to know what not to do. All potential activities can be evaluated based on whether they do or do not support the mission, and employees can avoid wasting time on initiatives that dont.Mission statements help employees find meaning in their workA good mission statement shows employees how their work will improve the lives of their customers, their community and perhaps even the world. Take for example Patagonias oft-cited mission statementBuild the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.When employees understand how their work contributes toward a larger goal, they find meaning in their work. And when employees find their work to be meaningful, they feel a sense of ownership over their work. This sense of ownership leads to stronger commitment to the work, and g reater engagement, and increased creativity when tackling challenges. All of behauptung lead to improved productivity.A strong mission statement helps employees to become ambassadorsOne of the most important aspects of a great mission statement is that it defines why your company exists and what makes it different than every other competitor. When your companys raison dtre is clear, every employee can clearly articulate to business partners and customers why your company is the best. Theyll be more passionate about your company, and theyll be able to become your most effective brand ambassadors.If your company has yet to draft a mission statement, theres no time like the present to do some organizational soulmusik searching and decide what you stand for. Your employees will thank you

How to Be a More Inclusive Leader, According to This Olympic Gold Medalist

How to Be a More Inclusive Leader, According to This Olympic Gold Medalist The business case for inclusion is common sense, if not common practice, said Cognizant Chief Financial Officer Karen McLoughlin during the opening remarks of Its Time Inclusions Role in Tech, a conference Cognizant hosted in New York City.Its Time, which focused on inclusive technology, gathered more than100 thought leaders on technology and the tech workforce. It started with a goal to empower attendees to discuss the importance of diversity in tech development. But it ended with a much broader message inclusivity isnt just important, its the way of the future. And we all need to be prepared to realize our biases, then work to overcome them.Keynote speaker Bonnie St. John Leadership Consultant, Olympic Medalist, Rhodes Scholar, and Author spoke on cracking the code on inclusion.Its like were living in the enlightenment, she said, lamenting that one day people will look back and wonder how we didnt get it s ooner. Diversity makes us more competitive.St. John exemplifies the power of diversity. She was the first African American ever to win medals in the Winter Paralympic competition as a ski racer. She said the U.S. ski gruppe wasnt recruiting one-legged black girls from San Diego, but her friend Barbara, who first brought her to a ski slope, knew that she would be a stand-out at the sport.Reaching across aisles and believing in people who dont look like you, St. John said, is the power of inclusive thinking. And without Barbaras inclusivity, America would have less gold medals.I realized that without me, we wouldve won less gold medals... It wasnt Americans behind me on that slope.She shared a few ways all leaders can be more inclusive, starting with recognizing their unconscious biases.You have to own it in order to change it, she said, using the curtain large orchestras place between judges and candidates for auditions as an example of forward thinking to combat biases.St. John also provided a more practical example of forward thinking. She said one white male executive she knew platzset a goal of speaking to people who didnt look like him at meetings and events he attended. He realized after a period of this outreach that he was no longer approached by the same group of people. Instead, a more diverse set of professionals felt comfortable approaching him to give their opinions.He asked Did word get out that Im cooler? St. John laughed. She said this small change made him visibly more inclusive, and underrepresented people had noticed.We can all reach out to people different from us, she said. And inclusive leaders reach out and involve quiet people.She said diversity in temperament is also important, as you never know why someone is quiet. Someone may be suffering from a hidden chronic illness, or come from a community that conditions women to be passive, especially to superiors.St. John provided several tips for reaching out to team introverts, including sen ding information along for pre-processing or asking people after the meeting why they were quiet and what you can do to help.Ultimately, she said her berater and ski coach, Warren Witherell, said you do not create individual champions, because you can only push one person so far. Instead, you must create a community of champions who empower each other.Beyond hosting Its Time, Cognizant has taken many steps to create an inclusive community of tech champions. The company has opened training centers dedicated to upskilling or reskilling people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to receive technological educations.Its a business necessity, said Eric Westphal, Senior Director of Global Corporate Affairs at Cognizant. They provide the diverse talent we need.The company has also sponsored education centers for children who may not otherwise be exposed to STEM like the Lower Eastside Girls Club to aid in giving all communities the option to build the technology of the future.

Understanding How to State Youre Writing an Article on Your Resume

Understanding How to State Youre Writing an Article on Your Resume When constructing a resume, its always a great concept to get started with an introduction. During the interview procedure, its always a great idea to bring a few hard copies of your resume in the darbietung you interview with a person who doesnt have the digital copy. Your statement needs to be written bullet point style utilizing short sentences that highlight your abilities. Your objective statement is the very first thing theyll see and read, since its the very first thing on the webpage. Life After How to State Youre Writing an Article on Your Resume You dont need to request a work outright. After youve proofread your resume, you are going to be prepared to apply for jobs. Most jobs might not be formally posted. If youve held any preceding jobs (like internships) In the fest the work post asks for a salary requirement, dont offer a number or just a range. Once completed, your resume ought to be saved with the proper title and in the right format. If it is possible to speak, write or translate another language, you also need to incorporate that info. As you dont put in an application for a particular part in a letter of interest, it isnt as simple to clarify how youd be the ideal fit. At this time you dont need to have into a lengthy dissertation describing every position youve ever held, but you do have to at least briefly note the kind and quantity of experience which you have in the particular subject of expertise applicable to the job that youre seeking. Your resume gives a speedy but strong first impression of the abilities and personal qualities you need to offer you. A history of employment indicates to a possible employer which you are, in actuality, employable. Its easier to plek out the best of your experience once you already have a resume sketch. Therefore, if you would like the job, you want to get a meticulously crafted and rehearsed routine just enjoy a c omedian does. Now that you know what things to put on your resume, lets at a few matters you should leave off if youd like to have interviews. How to State Youre Writing an Article on Your Resume Secrets That No One Else Knows About Furthermore, unless youre still in school or simply recently graduated, it could be time to eliminate your GPA from your resume. Writing a resume is often harder than you may anticipate. Look carefully at the posting, and when you have the mandatory skills be certain to list them. If you own a college education, omit details about high school.