A vision statement is sometimes called a
picture of your company in the future but it’s so much more than that. Your
vision statement is your inspiration, the framework for all your strategic
planning.
A vision statement may apply to an entire
company or to a single division of that company. Whether for all or part of an
organization, the vision statement answers the question, “Where do we want to
go?”
What you are doing when creating a vision
statement is articulating your dreams and hopes for your business. It reminds
you of what you are trying to build.
While a vision statement doesn’t tell you
how you’re going to get there, it does set the direction for your business
planning. (For more on the role of your vision statement in business planning,
see Quick-Start Business Planning.) That’s why it’s important when crafting a
vision statement to let your imagination go and dare to dream – and why it’s
important that a vision statement captures your passion.
Unlike the mission statement, a vision
statement is for you and the other members of your company, not for your
customers or clients.
When writing a vision statement, your
mission statement and your core competencies can be a valuable starting point
for articulating your values. Be sure when you’re creating one not to fall into
the trap of only thinking ahead a year or two. Once you have one, your vision
statement will have a huge influence on decision making and the way you
allocate resources.
Things to consider in Write a Vision Statement
A vision statement is your ticket to
success. A photograph in words of your company's future, it provides the
inspiration for both your daily operations and your strategic decisions.
Without a vision statement, effective business
planning would be impossible; it's the vision statement that provides the
destination for the journey, and without a destination, how can you plan the
route?
If you don't have a vision statement, don't
panic. I bet you do have a vision of what you want your business to accomplish;
you just need to articulate and formalize it.All the Best!
