Mission Statement

A mission statement is the foundation of the organization.  It tells your purpose, your reason for existence, and what you do. A good mission statement sets the foundation for decision making as you move to the next step—goals.

Goals

Once you have a purpose, it’s time to set SMART goals around your purpose.

Specific | Measurable | Attainable |Relevant | Time-based

Without activities, events, or initiatives, those goals will not be met. The next step in the process, The Program of Activities, is where the action takes place.

Program of Activities

This is where and how you live out your mission and achieve your goals. No Program of Activities should be created without asking how each activity supports your county mission and goals. Ask yourself, is this the BEST way to accomplish the mission and goals?

Eliminate all non-essential activities and meetings. Knowing your purpose and setting goals to achieve your purpose will help you identify non-essential activities.

Remember a good leader involves others in planning and executing activities. When problems occur, handle them as soon as they come up.

Delegate those things others could be doing, whether it’s related to work, family, or volunteer activities. Delegation develops responsibility and personal confidence in others, and that’s one of the hallmarks of leadership.

Are there other activities or events that would have a greater impact or utilize fewer resources?

Speaking of resources, what about the budget?

Budgets

The budget and Program of Activities are a two-way street!  You can’t create one without the other. These two must work together. Think about it, you can dream up great events for the Program of Activities, but if the county doesn’t have the dollars to implement it, the activity will never happen.

Prioritizing the Program of Activities helps to allocate budget dollars, while also realizing that a limited budget could in turn impact the number or scope of the Program of Activities.