What is a Vision Statement and How to Create One

A vision statement is an organization's declaration of its medium and long-term objectives, outlining what it wants to become in the future. It is a business document that sets out the current and future goals of an organization, and must be aligned with its mission, strategic planning, culture and core values. Vision statements are not only used in business, but also by non-profit organizations and government offices to set strategic objectives. A vision statement is a short sentence or paragraph that succinctly describes the objectives of a company, non-profit organization, or other entity.

It establishes what you're trying to build and serves as a touchstone for your future actions. It looks to the future, while the mission statement addresses the here and now. Companies should create a unique vision statement that is appealing to their customers and employees. An organization's business vision can change over time, as companies adapt to their business environment and to external factors that may affect their ability to achieve their mission.

Writing the vision statement should be a challenging process because it influences many other parts of the company. Once you have your vision statement and your mission statement, you can start working to connect those two concepts by creating an action plan. It is important for boards of directors to spend adequate time in the process of writing their vision statements, as it is a fundamental step in creating a company. The risk of not writing a clear vision statement is that it gives your company the chance to veer off course.

The vision talks about the purpose of the organization and why it is important for the organization to exist. On the contrary, being able to develop and articulate a vision is one of the characteristics of a strong business leader. A corporate vision statement provides everyone with clarity about the big picture, which lays the foundation for improving decision-making and targeting the right customers. If they had a defined vision statement for the tire shop and used it to make business decisions, they might have chosen to solve problems in a different way.