Organizations operate at different frequencies. Some have scattered teams with various approaches and ways of working. Others are so regimented that work is by-the-book, and their output shows little forward-thinking or creative problem-solving.
At IL2000, we approach our clients' businesses with as much passion as we do our own. Both inside our company and with our clients, collaboration nurtures an atmosphere of innovation and crafting solutions to specific problems.
And we have fun while doing it. If you’ve read our Logistics on Mars article, you'll see that not even the sky limits our approach.
Not just for emergencies
Every corporate website out there has a mission statement tucked away on an “in case of emergency, break glass” page. The mission just sits away behind glass and is never touched. Employees don't identify with it, and if you were to ask their clients to relate the statement to the team they’re familiar with, you’d probably get an “Ahem, pass.”
Yes, we have our About Us page, too, but every employee has a Core Values card on their desk, and we ooze passion. We feel it. Our clients feel it. When the following phrases come up in client reviews, it’s a good sign that your mission and core values trickle through your business:
“Having that level of proactive updates and communication is invaluable to what we do.” (CEO, Office Partitions and Glass Walls company)
“We really do feel it’s a relationship and the National Account Manager and the team go the extra mile for us often. Very valuable and something IL2000 does really well.” (Supply Chain Director, Flexible Packaging company)
“IL2000 is so quick to respond to everything, and we’re often shocked by how fast they are.” (Logistics Team, Food Ingredients Manufacturer)
Fun with Dick and Jane, and the dubious mission statement
Above all else, your mission statement should be short, pose one or two clear goals, and offer a glimpse of your company values and how you operate.
For a bit of fun, here are a few mission statements that missed the mark:
- A famous cosmetics brand (alright, I’ll tell you it was Avon) had a mission statement of 249 words! Here’s a short excerpt: “…We will be a committed global champion for the health and well-being of women through philanthropic efforts that eliminate breast cancer from the face of the earth, and that empower women to achieve economic independence…” So many goals to choose from, including surpassing competitors, becoming the premier direct seller, and beating breast cancer. I bet their employees were busy!
- If a corporation the size of McDonald’s can’t manage to release a mission statement without subject-verb misalignment, what hope do we, the little people, have? "Our worldwide operations are aligned around a global strategy called the Plan to Win, which center on an exceptional customer experience…." Strategy...center(s). Oh, boy. (I hope there are no typos in this blog, but hey, McDonald’s got away with it.)
- What about this one: “To create a shopping experience that pleases our customers; a workplace that creates opportunities and a great working environment for our associates; and a business that achieves financial success." No mention of what business they’re in. This was Albertsons’, the grocery chain, by the way.
- We all love to think big. “To help make every brand more inspiring, and the world more intelligent.” Great ambition – for a stick-on labels company.
- Have pride in what you sell. Barnes & Noble seems to waver: "Our mission is to operate the best specialty retail business in America, regardless of the product we sell."
Who’s to say what the perfect mission statement looks like? For us, it is a depiction of our company's aim and values that we can get behind.
At IL2000, we provide exceptional comprehensive logistics management services by tailoring our solutions to fit our clients. We earn our clients' trust through innovative technology, consistent communication and steadfast reliability. At IL2000, we honor our clients’ profitability as we do our own.
Luckily it’s only 42 words, has no typos (that I can find) and clearly states we’re in the “logistics management services” business. Oh, and we touch on our heart and value.
Let’s talk passion
Passion isn’t what we say we do; it's how we work – every day. And at the core are our values.
Embody Excellence – Positive spirit, stunning client service, continuous improvement
Not only do we strive always to give our clients more, but we reward our employees who embody this value to the extreme and share monthly Employee Spotlights.
Take Ownership - Accountability, problem solving, sense of urgency
We empower everyone in our team to step up and propose new ways to keep our clients’ freight moving and their operations efficient.
Embrace Communication - Clear, Concise, Effective
From an active Client Services team to sharing valuable resources such as monthly market updates, white papers and TMS Tips, we’re in touch with our clients all the time.
Be Precise - Fact driven, subject matter expertise, accurate
You can’t get more fact-driven than Power BI. But we do more than provide data. We create custom dashboards, train teams in what the results and trends mean for their business, and take proactive action on insights. Our customers aren’t left to figure it out for themselves.
Show Respect - Trust, independent thinking, treat each other equally
We’ve spent years (over 20 in fact – read about our founding) finding the right transportation experts to join our team. We’re constantly evolving, so if you’re interested in joining our team as a new hire or a potential customer, get in touch!
Have Fun - Work hard – play hard
It’s all about the team, both our customers and us. We learn together, grow together, and have fun together. But don’t take my word for it, reach out to our consulting engagement team and see for yourself!