   In the huddle the pro-quarterback looks at the other players and says, “We really need to win this game.  Let’s score a touchdown on the next play.”  The players respond, “Great, we’re with you QB, what’s the play?”  The quarterback snarls, “What’s the play? How long have you guys been on this team?  You’re supposed to know all the plays, especially the one I’m thinking of in this situation.  What are you being paid for?  Now you even want me to tell you the next play?  Next you’ll be expecting me to tell you my game plan!  You guys are supposed to be professionals and I want performance.  You should already know what needs to be done to win this game!”
   Not a very good way to run a football team, is it?  Yet many business owners and managers use the exact same style to run their business.  They want performance from their management staff and employees but fail to effectively communicate the game plan to their team—if they even have a game plan at all.
    What is your game plan—the mission or purpose of your business?  What do you want your organization to accomplish?
    To find out how effective you are in communicating the goals and objectives of your business to your employees, try this little test.  Ask your employees and management team to write a short summary of the purpose of your business.  You may be very surprised at the results, even from those employees that have been with you for many years.
    If you receive a wide variety of answers, then you know that you need to have better communication between you and your staff.  Your employees should have a very clear understanding as to the purpose or the mission of your business.
    If you haven’t prepared a mission statement for your business you need to do so as soon as possible.  If you already have a mission statement, review its content and then be sure that all of your employees understand it, can communicate it to others, and keep it in focus throughout their daily activities.
    Properly written, the mission statement ensures that everyone is focused on the activities required to accomplish the desired objectives for your business.  Then, when you ask the team to score a touchdown, they won’t have to ask you what the play is—they’ll already know.