In the ever-evolving landscape of business, having a clear vision is paramount to steering your company toward success. A well-crafted statement acts as a guiding star, outlining the future direction of your organization and should motivate your staff to be a part of it.
A vision statement encapsulates the long-term aspirations of a company. It is a concise yet powerful expression of the organization’s goals and values. It motivates both employees and stakeholders. A strong vision statement not only defines the company’s future but also helps in aligning the decisions and actions of the entire workforce. Great vision statements are motivating and incredibly ambitious.
Crafting Your Vision Statement
A vision statement serves as your company’s “North Star,” motivating your team and guiding your organization as it grows. It’s not something to take lightly—a good vision statement should be written collaboratively by multiple company stakeholders and will require a significant time investment.
When Microsoft was first founded, its vision was to get “A computer on every desk and in every home.” At the time, many people would have seen this as ridiculous and unrealistic.
Some characteristics of a great vision statement:
- Future focused
- Ambitious
- Strategic
- Broad
- Feasible
- Succinct
- Creates meaning in workers lives
- Establishes a standard of excellence
- Energizes people
- It is noteworthy
Some vision statement examples:
Ikea- “To create a better everyday life for the many people.”
Southwest Airlines- “To become the worlds most loved, most flown, most profitable airline.”
Google- “To significantly improve the lives of as many people as possible.”
Amazon- “Our vision is to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavours to offer its customers the lowest possible prices.”
If you have a vision statement, review it and ask yourself the following questions:
- Does it describe what your company will be and achieve in five years plus?
- Do you feel motivated when reading it?
- Does it feel bold, ambitious, and perhaps a little daunting?
- Is it still relevant to the journey your company is on?
- Is it clear and easy to understand?
If you don’t have it, then you need to begin crafting one as this is one of the foundational pieces for your business. It is going to feel like a messy process at first, but in the end, it will be that guiding light to help you make decisions.
Implementing Your Vision Statement
After you have come up with your statement, you want to make sure to do a few things. You want to make sure that you have dialed in your business foundations, vision, mission, and values, and are able to share the story of where your company is going and how your team is a part of it. To communicate it to the world, making it a part of your marketing and branding efforts.
You want to use it to inspire your team. Your staff is the reason your company will be successful or not. Sharing the vision with them, helping them see how their role is a valuable part of the company and reaching that is important.
A compelling vision statement is the cornerstone of a successful company. By outlining your future direction and values, it inspires your team and attracts stakeholders who share your vision. Take the time to craft a powerful statement and use it as a compass to navigate your company towards a prosperous and meaningful future. By embracing and utilizing the power of a strong vision, and you will watch your company thrive in the ever-changing business landscape.
I strategically help business owners develop their leadership competencies. We implement ways to be more strategic to increase revenue and develop workflows that affect the bottom line. In the end, we create work-life integration so they live a life they love.
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Stephanie German is a business strategist, adjunct professor, and speaker. She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership and loves giving back to her community in a variety of ways. When she’s not coaching clients or writing about leadership, Stephanie is usually headed to the mountains or the beach with her family, drinking savory wine, or working on the latest project with her husband. She lives in Fresno, California with her husband Blake and her three spunky daughters, Cara, Kinsey, and Peyton. She is the best-selling author of So Your Boss Can’t Lead?