What is your vision of where your company will be in three to five years? How big do you want it to be? What do you want to be known for? You have probably spent plenty of time daydreaming, with your imagination running wild about what the future holds. However, somewhere over the course of time, you began to suppress these fantasies and limited yourself because you didn’t think it was possible for those dreams to become reality. The truth is, it’s ok to dream big and this is actually a fundamental part of business success. Without a goal in mind, how do you know where you are headed?
A vision is simply a mental picture of what success looks like at a particular time in the future. A great vision can be very inspiring, and it can motivate you and your team to keep working toward achieving your goals. It is important to create a vision that is strategic and plausible. There must be a reasonable way of getting there. By creating a vision, you are making all the hours, resources, and efforts seem worthwhile to your staff. Here are a few ways you can implement a company vision.
1. Write it Down
Once you have decided what you want your business to be in the future, you want to formalize and communicate this vision through a written vision statement. A vision statement captures, in writing, where you want to take your business and this can inspire those around you to get there. It is important to have your vision written so you can easily and clearly communicate it to your employees. It should include your long-term business goals and should answer the question, “Where are we going as a company?’ Once you have a vision statement written out, distribute it to your employees.
2. Talk About it Regularly
Your employees drive the success of your company so how can you expect them to reach their destination without direction? You need to cast your vision by sharing it regularly with your employees. Talk about in daily conversations and in one-on-one meetings. Make sure it is woven into your daily interactions with your employees so everyone is on the same page about these goals.
3. Hold Monthly Meetings
Another way to cast your vision is by holding monthly meetings to check in and see what progress has been made toward reaching your goals. Are you on the right track? Have you encountered new challenges? Are there suggestions for improvement? You may also use this time to share important information such as praise from a customer or compliments from an executive. Sharing these small victories will keep everyone motivated and inspired to keep pushing forward.
4. Create Handouts and Displays
It is important that employees see this vision over and over. Visibility is key for employees to remember why they are there and what they are working towards. Create handouts of your vision and encourage employees to keep them posted at their desks. You may also want to frame your vision statement and place it in common areas such as the breakroom or conference room.
5. Create a Vision Board
Encourage employees and team members to contribute magazine articles, pictures, photographs, words, or anything else that relates to your vision. Make them part of the vision by helping to create a vision board to be displayed in the office. This will serve as a constant reminder of your organization’s overall goals.