Where do you want your business to be a few years down the road? After you’ve worked out the kinks, gotten it back on track and achieved the success you’ve always wanted?
Whether you’re a new business owner or have been at it for years, a vision statement defines your business’s destination by pinpointing exactly where/what you want your business to be in the future. It’s a key element to attaining your own version of business success. For those jaded business owners out there (and you know who you are) who think this is a silly a waste of time, please take another look, for running a business without having a vision of want you want it to look like when it’s “done”, is akin to getting into your car without knowing where you’re going.
When you define your business vision, you pinpoint an end result that motivates and inspires you (and anyone else in your organization) to put in the work necessary to reach it. It’s the penultimate result of achieving your mission and is in alignment with your core values as well as your own personal goals.
Creating a vision statement:
To do this, describe exactly what your business to be like in the future, 3, 5, 10 or even 20 years down the road. Write in the present tense as if it has come to fruition already. Allow it to be a stretch goal, something that is based in reality, but is a bit bigger than what you might normally allow yourself to imagine.
To begin, ask yourself questions like:
- What are the core mission and values we are built on?
- Who do we serve?
- How big do I/we want this business to become?
- What role do I play and how does this tie in with my own personal goals?
- What benefits do we provide for our clients?
- What are we known for?
- What kind of energy do I draw from it?
- What level of fulfillment does it give me and my staff?
Companies that focus on creating a vision statement are able to achieve far greater results than those that leave things to chance. A strategic vision statement helps you to make better decisions and easily determine which opportunities to pursue, and which ones to leave alone. And, it serves as the basis for the development of specific goals and the overall strategic plan that will help you get there.
What’s your vision? Join the conversation below:
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Susan Martin, Strategic Planning
