Whether you’re dreaming of starting up your own Health & Wellness business, or in the thick of running one, when was the last time you thought of your mission statement? Maybe you never got around to writing one, and it lives just in your head, in the way you run your clinic or practice every day.
In this blog, we’ll discuss why it’s important to write a mission statement for your small business, and to check in on it periodically. Even if you are a sole practitioner, there are benefits from a mission statement. Writing down your purpose – why you do what you do, what you want to achieve – is a good way to give direction and monitor the progress of your business.
What is a mission statement?
According to Indeed, a mission statement is ‘a single sentence that describes a company’s fundamental purpose by explaining why the business exists’. It is a formal, short statement that declares what you do, as a company or business; your capabilities, customer focus and products or services.
It should be easy to remember and articulate. If you run a big clinic or collaborate with other practitioners, it will be used by your team and maybe your customers to understand what you do and why you do it. A good mission statement will be at the heart of a company’s marketing messages; communicating the passion and purpose behind its activities.
What are the benefits of a mission statement for a sole practitioner?
Even if you’re a solo entrepreneur, you’ll find that the act of writing, and reviewing the statement, brings clarity and purpose. This will then be a guide for the many decisions you need to make, as your business grows. Your mission statement can also be a way to measure the growth of your business – looking at it to see if the way it’s developing is in line with your original vision.
How to create a mission statement for your small business
A good way is to start by answering questions such as:
- What does my business do?
- Who are my customers?
- What are my values?
- What sets my company apart from other similar businessses?
There are a few steps you should take when writing a mission statement for your small business:
1. Define your audience
The first step in writing a mission statement is to define your audience. This will help you determine what language to use and what information to include.
Are you writing for your patients, your practitioner team, investors, or all of the above? Your mission statement should be tailored to your audience.
2. Research your industry and competitors
After you’ve defined your audience, it’s time to do some research. Start by learning about your industry and studying other similar Health & Wellness businesses. What is the history of your industry? What trends are happening in the present?
What do others’ mission statements say? An understanding of your industry and your place in it will be crucial in crafting a mission statement that is unique and differentiated.
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3. Identify your strengths
Now it’s time to take a close look at your own business. What are your strengths? What makes you different from other practitioners or clinics out there?
4. Draft your mission statement
With all of this information in hand, you’re ready to start drafting your mission statement.
Remember to keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Your mission statement should be no more than a few sentences long. And don’t forget to make it inspiring! It should reflect your individual style and spark.
5. Get feedback and revise as needed
Once you’ve written a draft of your mission statement, it’s time to get some feedback. Show it to your team, customers, investors, and anyone else who can provide valuable input. Then, based on the feedback you receive, revise your mission statement as needed. A mission statement is a living document, so don’t be afraid to make changes as your business evolves.
Examples of Health & Wellness mission statements
Here are some examples of mission statements from small Health & Wellness businesses:
- At XYZ Clinic, we strive to support our patients to live a life free of pain
- Our mission is to be the go-to hub for XYZ/complementary healthcare.
- We are dedicated to providing holistic healthcare services that support each person to reach their full potential
- Our mission is to provide high-quality, bespoke XYZ/holistic healthcare
We hope this has helped you write your own, unique mission statement!