{"id":72322,"date":"2022-07-09T12:05:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-09T16:05:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=72322"},"modified":"2022-07-20T13:29:51","modified_gmt":"2022-07-20T17:29:51","slug":"how-to-write-a-good-purpose-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/how-to-write-a-good-purpose-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Write a Good Purpose Statement: Sinek’s Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What are the most important characteristics of a good purpose statement<\/a>? How do you write a purpose statement? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motivational speaker and author Simon Sinek<\/a> believes <\/strong>finding your purpose<\/a> helps you make more persuasive appeals to people. Your energy and commitment to your purpose<\/a> are contagious, so having clarity on it helps you pitch your ideas in a way that\u2019s more authentic and enticing to others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read on to learn Sinek’s proven steps for writing a good purpose statement and how to start creating your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Your Purpose Statement<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to Simon Sinek, a good purpose statement is a single sentence that declares your ultimate goal and vision.<\/strong> According to Sinek, it has two parts: The first part should spell out the core action<\/em> your Why compels you to take. The second part should state what you\u2019re ultimately striving to achieve: the impact <\/em>you want to have.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An older version of Airbnb\u2019s mission statement is a great example of a purpose statement: To connect millions of people in real life all over the world, through a community marketplace (core action)\u2014so that you can Belong Anywhere (impact).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Shortform note: In First Things First<\/em><\/a>, <\/em>Stephen Covey also suggests writing a statement of what matters most to you and what you hope to achieve, but he approaches it with more flexibility. While Sinek\u2019s purpose statement succinctly states the core action you take and the key impact you seek in one sentence, Covey\u2019s mission statement more broadly defines your life\u2019s goals and the principles that guide you toward them<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Write a Good Purpose Statement<\/strong>: Key Characteristics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

According to Sinek, an effective purpose statement has four characteristics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Characteristic #1: Short and User-Friendly<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The purpose statement should be easy to understand and clear about how you\u2019ll put it into action. By keeping it short, you help yourself remember your Why and keep it in mind when you take action. Additionally, Sinek argues that limiting it to one sentence helps ensure that it\u2019s truthful because it forces you to state only what matters most<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Characteristic #2: Impact-Focused<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The second part of the statement focuses on the impact of your work and your positive effect on others. Sinek stresses that having a positive impact feeds our sense of fulfillment, because fulfillment comes from serving others<\/a> rather than seeking our own satisfaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Characteristic #3: Meaningful and Declarative<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Your statement should inspire you or your team to reach within for your best version. This is a meaningful, truthful <\/em>version of yourself, not an aspirational\u2014or worse, doctored\u2014version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Characteristic #4: Constant<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Your purpose is a constant in all aspects of your life and work. Sinek notes that your desired effect doesn\u2019t change over time or in different situations. But while you have only one purpose statement, you\u2019ll find different ways to express<\/em> your purpose in different contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Alternative Approach to the Purpose Statement<\/strong>

In First Things First<\/em><\/a>, Stephen Covey recommends gaining clarity on your purpose by writing what he calls a mission statement. He outlines the characteristics of an effective mission statement<\/a>, some of which are similar to Sinek\u2019s suggestions. But Covey\u2019s flexible and holistic approach to the mission statement considers characteristics that Sinek doesn\u2019t:

– While Sinek believes you need a brief statement that doesn\u2019t embellish your purpose, Covey is more flexible and encourages creative self-expression.

– Covey suggests that your personal mission statement<\/a> should address your four basic human needs<\/a>: survival, connection, learning, and giving back. Given Sinek\u2019s focus on impact, he would argue that a good purpose statement should mostly be about giving back. 

– Covey is more specific than Sinek in emphasizing that your mission statement defines the universal principles you will apply to achieve your purpose.

– Finally, while Sinek believes a purpose statement is a constant in your life, Covey gives more guidance on how to make the mission statement relevant to all the spheres of your life by ensuring it includes all the different roles you play.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Exercise: Learn the Elements of a Purpose Statement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This exercise will help you understand the characteristics of writing a good purpose statement before you set out to create yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n