The Importance of a Corporate Vision
In the previous article we looked at the importance of determining your corporate values. I hope you found the Values Statement helpful to you in determining the Core Values of your organization. This is the first, critical step in formulating a vision that your team will buy into and work towards, as your vision should reflect the values your organization holds dear.
We live and work in very unsettling times, and it is important for leaders and employees alike to have a vision for the following reasons:
Having a vision helps us prioritize our days at work.
We all have such full plates today that it is difficult to know what to do first. However, when you have a vision of what you want to achieve, and you can "taste" what it would be like to achieve it, you gravitate to those activities and projects that will lead you closer to your vision. You get that "quirk" in your heart when you have done something that directly relates to what you are trying to accomplish. You also get that feeling in the pit of your stomach when you are working on something that you know will not lead you where you need to go. The vision you hold becomes the compass that keeps you on track. Many business leaders have told me that a worthy goal or vision is the "fire in the belly" that keeps them going. The most successful visionaries have the ability to look into the future and see the possibilities, and at the same time, maintain a focus on what needs to be done in the present.
Having a vision helps us become failure-resistant.
From the moment I decided to become a professional speaker, I could not walk into a room without visualizing myself in front of an audience speaking and having an impact on the lives of the people in my audience. It could be any room … in a hotel, in an office building, in any type of auditorium … there I was, speaking to the crowd. I had no idea at the time what I would say or who my audience would be, but I was there on that stage speaking my heart out! This is now my 21st year of speaking professionally and I have held on to that vision through good years and difficult ones in my career. I may make mistakes and I may not always live up to my high expectations of myself, but I am not a failure. I cannot allow a vision of failure and a vision of myself in my life at the same time. As long as I stay true to my vision and work towards it, I will be failure-resistant. A strong, clear, values-driven vision will do the same for you and your organization as well. You and your team will view barriers as challenges rather than obstacles as you navigate your way towards your vision.
Having a vision gives us a common bond and purpose to strive for.
One of the most important facets of a vision is the power it has to unify people to strive towards a common goal. When a corporate vision becomes more important than an individual's personal agenda, you rise above the "turf" issues and power struggles that can happen at work. Especially during times of organizational change, it is crucial that everyone has a shared vision of what the company seeks to accomplish, and what his/her part is in it.
Having a vision gives purpose and meaning to life.
A vision is the structure that gives life its meaning and purpose. A vision gives
us a reason to stretch ourselves, get out of our comfort zones, and try something new. For many people a
vision represents the vehicle to move us forward when we are in either of the following situations:
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world.
For, indeed, that's all who ever have."
Margaret Mead
Barbara Mintzer Copyright 2003 All Rights Reserved
