A vision statement is more than just a phrase. When drafted properly and shared with the company employees, stakeholders, and customers, it becomes a declaration of purpose: a single sentence that defines what your company is all about and what you’re trying to achieve. It can unify employees under one goal while motivating them to achieve it. It gives your customers a clear idea of what they can expect from you. Your company’s vision statement is its mantra, one that should be repeated over and over again.
The company’s vision is instrumental to guiding the company’s work. It is a single, unifying goal that employees should work to achieve. Without knowing the company’s goal, how can employees be expected to achieve it? Author, philosopher, and professor Tom Morris put it this way: “If we don’t know who we are or where we’re going, how can we possibly know exactly what we should do today, and tomorrow?”
A great vision statement illustrates the future of the company in one simple sentence. It conveys what the company does and the impact it hopes to make on the lives of others. It should be concise, yet powerful — something that will be easily remembered and communicated by employees and customers alike. Some great examples are:
Since we know these brands well, we can see how their visions encompass what they do in a short, memorable phrase. And it’s a message that makes sense because they have based their strategies, plans, and future on that vision. Coca-Cola’s message of refreshment is apparent in their advertising, marketing, and general communication with the public, so it’s easy to see how its vision is being carried out. There are probably many things that could be said about Google as a company, but the way the company sees itself and its future is clearly defined in its vision statement. So too must your company’s vision statement define your company’s future.
The responsibility then falls on the employer—through the HR department—to make sure all the employees are aware of the company’s vision and understand its importance. Here are a few reasons why any employer needs to ensure that employees learn the company’s vision.
When employees are aware of the company’s vision—along with its strategies, plans, and future goals—and this vision (mantra) is clearly communicated to them, they are better able to contribute to the realization of the company’s vision.
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Company’s values and vision statement should be a source of inspiration for its employees. Furthermore, it can even become an instrument to discourage those people that don’t believe in the company’s values. A vision statement such as the one used by Microsoft – “to put a computer on every desk and in every home” – can help the company to build a strong sense of loyalty.
Creating a provocative message can align employees around a common purpose and make their hearts and minds identify with the belief that through alliance with the company’s values they can accomplish the vision of the company.
A well-expressed vision statement can have a positive impact on employees and create higher engagement. This is what all employers want. Why? Because higher engagement results in lower absenteeism and higher focus and motivation. This means that employees work more efficiently, which will increase productivity.