Every organization, including startups, small businesses, and nonprofits, should have a mission statement. In 5 Reasons Mission Statements (Still) Matter for Startups, Entrepreneur contributor Aimee Tariq, founder and chief executive officer of A Life with Health, explains why and details five distinct benefits.  Here are a few noteworthy excerpts:

The right mission statement will provide a valuable guidepost as you continue to grow and innovate within your startup. By helping you stay true to your long-term goals, it will ensure that you attract the right talent, innovate in the right direction and be better able to overcome obstacles along the path to success.

1. A mission statement defines your goals.

While a mission statement won’t get into the nitty gritty of your short-term goals, it helps establish the long-term pursuits that everyone in your company should be working toward.

2. It helps you locate your “how.”

Powerful mission statements don’t just include what you want to accomplish, but offer a roadmap that hones in on how you’ll reach these goals.

3. It solidifies company culture.

Mission statements help solidify your startup’s culture by defining the things it values most and clearly communicating those attributes during the recruiting process, ensuring that you will attract likeminded employees.

4. It guides future decisions.

By establishing your startup’s core values with a mission statement, you can gain greater confidence by applying those criteria during the decision-making process.

5. It encourages engagement.

A quality mission statement also ensures your employees stick around for the long haul and deliver stronger results while working for your business.

Read the full article at entrepreneur.com.