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The contribution of a personal mission statement towards personal leadership

M.Phil. / The purpose of the study was to investigate the importance of designing a mission statement as part of the personal leadership process. The problem investigated in the study was that people have visions but lack the vehicle to turn the visions into reality. The problem arises because people do not take the time to see if the visions they have and the goals they set are aligned with their values and principles. They lack the vehicle that will keep them focused on what is important on their way to their vision, namely their values and principles. The general aim of this study was to clarify the concept of what a mission statement is and to investigate designing and Jiving the mission statement within the personal leadership paradigm and process. The research was descriptive in nature. The research methods used included a word and concept analysis to clarify the concepts central to the study. A literature study was conducted to identify the importance of a mission statement in the personal leadership process and to clarify the steps in designing a mission statement. The follmving are the most important fmdings of the study: • The following definition was constructed based on the word- and concept analysis: A mission statement is a written tool that guides one in making the correct choices, based on the core values and principles that form the passion of one's being, to which one is committed, for lvhich one is prepared to work hard and for which one must be prepared to sacrifice. • It was emphasized that the mission statement is an integral part of the personal leadership process. • The mam characteristics of a m1ss10n statement that were identified included that a mission statement should be brief, easily understood and memorized and must encompass one's most basic principles and values. • The process of designing a mission statement was concluded from the various processes that were identified by authors in the disciplines of business, religion and personal leadership. The design process was divided in two phases namely the preparatory phase in which one does a self search in respect of one's values, visions and life roles, and secondly the designing phase in which a mission statement is formulated, finalized and maintained.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:2138
Date05 March 2012
CreatorsKruger, Willem
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis

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