Having mission and vision statements help companies determine strategic direction, create an identity both internally and externally, and develop a strategy to meet important goals. In the Masters of Engineering with a concentration in Information Engineering Management (IEM) at UAB, we discuss how to use leadership skills to support these statements that not only promote customer loyalty, but also align and inspire employees and stakeholders.

Some of the companies whose products you may often interact with have mission statements that describe both the product they are selling, as well as the company identity and culture. Here are some examples:

• IKEA - To create a better everyday life for the many people.
• Tesla - To accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy.
• TED - Spread ideas.
• Warby Parker - To offer designer eyewear at a revolutionary price, while leading the way for socially conscious businesses.

Make it Personal.

Just like these companies hold mission statements that pull their product and people together, having a personal vision and mission statement, or purpose statement, can help you identify your personal strengths, remind you why you're on your personal path of growth, and help you identify the actions needed to meet your own goals. 

A purpose statement speaks what success and excellence look like to you. It reflects what you value, the goals you wish to accomplish, and how you personally want to operate. When companies create their own purpose statements, they often craft them with a formula from the answers of the questions below:

1. What value do you want to create?

Before you can be great, you have to know what you're going to be great at. We all have something that makes us stand out from others, it just takes initiative to find that thing and persistence to make it great. What do you value? What are your personal strengths? What are the ideas that keep you up at night? The first step in your purpose statement defines what exactly you will do that you can put a vision and mission behind.

2. Who do you intend to benefit from your work?

Once you've identified what you want to accomplish, you can identify who you want to benefit. Do you hope to make life and work easier for those in your field? Do you want your personal achievements to impact your family? Knowing who you're working for is just as important as knowing what you want to do, and makes your purpose statement, personal.

3. What is your desired expected outcome?

As Covey emphasizes in The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, you should always begin with the end in mind. Why is this work important to you? What impact do you hope to make? Knowing your ideal outcome will help not only give you a path to success straight to that goal, but also help you avoid any distractions that may derail you.

Chart Your Own Course. Let us Guide You. 

Having a purpose statement will help you solidify your identity in order to be able to lead others well. You will also find the assurance to back yourself up when asking for a promotion, starting a new job, or applying for a graduate program. In IEM we not only give you the ability to identify your own purpose statement, but also the resources to help you start working towards making your purpose statement your reality. If you're interested in learning more about how we can help you define the vision and mission for your own career, fill out the form on this page to schedule a time to talk or email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..