A vision statement implies to a written declaration that describes the goals and overall purpose of a company. As Richard Ghilarducci says, this statement may describe a strategic plan for success, guide employees and reassure stakeholders. An impactful vision statement can help a company to attract like-minded employees, and help them to stay focused on key business goals.
Richard Ghilarducci mentions a few pointers that can help create an impactful vision statement
A vision statement of a company typically outlines its current and future objectives. It may reflect the proposed roadmap to growth, during which the business may put emphasis on efficiently fulfilling its goals and objectives. As the aspirations of a company may change as per its growth plans, managers must try to alter the vision statement to reflect the new goals.
Here are a few pointers to follow while writing a vision statement:
- Select a good team: Before crafting a vision statement, it is crucial to assemble a strong team comprising individuals who share common goals and values. Their perspectives and contributions have to be taken into account to represent various facets of the company. One also needs to seek input from stakeholders regarding their opinions and objectives. While creating a vision statement may appear straightforward, it requires careful consideration of multiple factors. A capable team can offer valuable insights into the potential accomplishments of a company, providing a clearer understanding of the company vision for the long term.
- Conduct a brainstorming process: After the team has been selected, they need to get together for brainstorming sessions. Discussions on various things can be conducted at these sessions, right from the important business goals to the appropriate length for the statement. It would be a good idea to get constructive feedback from employees at the early stages of drafting the statement.
- Analyze the business: A checklist can be created to identify the scale of a company, its culture, as well as its potential impact on the industry and community. One also needs to think about the goal of the brand in regards to customer interactions, and how the company plans to help employees grow.
- Map business goals: After analyzing the company, it would be the time to map its current goals. Doing so can provide a clearer idea of the direction in which the vision statement can go. One must also ensure to incorporate the current strategic objectives of the company.
- Review the mission statement: It can be a good idea to assess the existing mission statement of the company to determine its alignment with the vision statement. When combined, the vision and mission statements must provide a comprehensive overview of the organization’s goals. Analyzing the mission statement can serve as a guiding factor and assist people in crafting a compelling business statement that resonates with stakeholders.
As Richard Ghilarducci says, prior to writing a vision statement for a company; one must also study the statements of a few competitors. This can help in gaining a better idea of what the vision statement must entail and how should it be structured.