HR Mission Statement: The Case for a Guiding Vision

The Human Resources department has many responsibilities: benefits administration, onboarding & offboarding, performance management, legal compliance, and recruitment. I don’t need to tell you that this list goes on and on. Responsibilities, though, should not be confused with purpose; they are activities that support the team’s vision. An HR mission statement is critical to understanding the reason the department exists, or to borrow from Simon Sinek, the “why”. Without an overarching vision, the team doesn’t have direction or clear target. A purpose statement can provide this guidance.

This article will discuss the importance of a mission statement, provide instructions on how to create one, and offer real-world examples.

The Power of Purpose

A departmental mission statement is a clear and concise declaration of a team’s purpose; it provides clarity to employees about what the team stands for and a vision for them to achieve.

The statement is a broad, lofty proclamation about a higher purpose; a passion that resonates beyond day-to-day responsibilities.

Here are 5 reasons a clear vision is important to the team:

1. Inspires and unites team members around a greater good.
2. Provides direction for programs and policies.
3. Encourages teamwork and innovation.
4. Motivates members through challenges.
5. Creates a decision matrix for allocating time and resources.

A precise, compelling mission statement leads to better decision-making, more effective and efficient operations, improved outcomes, and a cohesive team.

Creating an Effective Mission Statement

Creating a strong HR mission statement requires a clear understanding of the team’s goals, values, and culture. It should be developed in collaboration with employees and key stakeholders.

When crafting the statement, use language that is clear, concise, and easy to remember. Aim for a maximum length of 10 words. Also, avoid generic ideas that don’t resonate with the team; the intent is to write an inspiring message about the team’s passion.

To better understand effective mission statements, let’s look at some examples of poor HR team visions:

• To manage a smooth benefit open enrollment and conduct error-free payroll.
• To hire and retain the best employees.
• To improve employee engagement score by 20 points.

While these statements are all worthy goals, they are not a holistic, guiding vision.

Real Examples

For inspiration and guidance, here are 5 examples from organizations you’ve most likely heard of:

• Amazon: “We build a workplace for Amazonians to invent on behalf of customers.”
• Adobe: “At Adobe, we believe that when people feel respected and included they can be more creative, innovative, and successful. While we have more work to do to advance diversity and inclusion, we’re investing to move our company and industry forward.”
• Starbucks: “Creating a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome.”
• HubSpot: “Evolve, scale, and share [our award-winning culture] globally.”

Notice, these messages all relate to a bigger picture, going beyond the scope of day-to-day HR responsibilities. While a few of the statements could benefit from edits for brevity, they are all intended to link HR team members to a greater good related to employees and their business community.

Next Steps

To write an HR mission statement:

1. Meet with HR leaders to brainstorm the team’s “why.” What greater good motivates and inspires everyone to do their best work?
2. Wordsmith the purpose into a clear, concise statement.
3. Get feedback from executives and key stakeholders.
4. Adjust as needed.
5. Review the statement after a month with HR leaders to confirm accuracy and intent.
6. Communicate the statement to the HR team.
7. Spread the word to a broader audience: publish on the website; include in email signatures, add to the handbook, etc.

As bonus inspiration, here is my favorite client-developed mission statement: Create a space for our people to live their best lives.

Summary

Ultimately, developing an HR mission statement is not just a tick-the-box exercise; it’s essential to define the team’s purpose and vision. Engaging both employees and stakeholders in the process allows for meaningful dialogue and makes sure everyone understands the values that guide them. It also provides an opportunity to create something inspiring and motivating that hopefully unites members with a common cause.

Gather your team today and start crafting your statement. Write it down, share it on the walls, and remind each other often of what you stand for. And if you feel up for it, why not take it one step further and share your team’s mission statement in the comments? You could end up giving valuable insight into how to craft inspiring statements to fellow Talent Alchemists best.

We can’t wait to hear about your vision and help you build that reality.

Additional Reading

If you are in the process of creating your team’s core focus, you may also want to check out our article on rebranding HR.