What characteristics should a mission statement have?

• A. Concise, outcome-oriented, and inclusive of goals and people involved
• B. Long and detailed
• C. Textbook legalistic
• D. Vague and ambiguous

Answer: (A)

A mission statement should be concise, outcome-oriented, and inclusive of goals and people involved. It communicates purpose in a way that’s easy to remember and act on, focusing on the impact you aim to achieve and how success will be recognized. By naming the goals and the people or groups served and involved, it guides decision-making, aligns team efforts, and builds accountability. Avoid being overly long, legalistic, or vague, because those traits make the statement hard to understand, hard to uphold, and hard to rally around. A crisp, outcome-driven statement that references who is affected and what will be achieved keeps everyone aligned and focused on real results.