Vision Statement

Vision statements can be a few words or a paragraph.  It is advisable to keep the statement as short as possible so everyone in the organization can internalize it. This is perhaps the most significant statement a management team can make to inspire everyone to stay true to the company's identity.  This can also apply to a division, a team, a department, etc. Vision statements apply equally to companies, government entities and non-profits, as well as, individuals.

"Blue skying it" is important.  Your vision is an idealized state for your company.  It is the view of what you want for the future and encompasses your mission, values, goals, and objectives.  It is what the organization wants to become.  If possible, try to summarize your vision using a powerful phrase in the first paragraph of your vision statement.  This will enhance the effectiveness of your vision statement.  Vision statements also define the organizations purpose in terms of the organization's values rather than bottom line measures.  The vision statement communicates both the purpose and values of the organization.  A vision statement describes how the future will look if the organization achieves it's mission. (See Mission )

A couple examples:

• Microsoft's vision:  "A personal computer in every home running Microsoft software."
• Centers for Disease Control vision: "Healthy People in a Healthy World."

Or this one:

• Renssalaer Research Libraries:  "As Rensselaer moves towards its goal of achieving prominence as a top-tier world class technological research university, the Libraries' vision is to support the Rensselaer Plan by providing seamless access to the widest possible spectrum of information resources relevant to Rensselaer's research and learning communities and to be a distinctive campus facility serving a variety of community needs."

I find this one wordy... to me it is way to hard to remember and too convoluted to be internalized easily.  In my opinion a potentially better vision statement is actually buried in the preceding paragraph.  The other 'stuff' can be in the mission and goal statements. A statement such as the following would seem to convey the same meaning and impact and be more memorable...

• Renssalaer Research Libraies' vision: "Seamless access to the widest possible spectrum of relevant information resources."

The key to a successful and relevant Vision Statement is brainstorming what you want to be when you grow up!  What is possible and what is in line with your products and capabilities.

The differences:

1. Vision: Defines where the organization wants to be in the future. It reflects the optimistic view of the organization's future.
2. Mission: Defines where the organization is going now, basically describing the purpose, why this organization exits.
3. Values: Main values protected by the organization during the progression, reflecting the organization's culture and priorities.
4. Strategic Planning: Saves wasted time, every minute spent in planning saves ten minutes in execution.