​How to Write the Vision Statement Your Company Needs

Does your company have a well-defined mission statement? If it doesn't, your employee engagement and productivity could suffer for it.

In fact, employees who find meaning in their company's vision have engagement levels of 68%. That's 18 points above average! When your employees are engaged, their also more productive.

As a result, your company can start on a path for long-term success!

Before you start on that path, however, you need to write the vision statement itself.

Here are the seven steps you need to take when writing your company's vision statement. With this guide, you can lead your employees into the new year on a path of absolute success!

1. Know Your Goals

Before you start on the path to success, you need to know what you're aiming for. Setting realistic goals for your company will help you devise a plan. Once you know where you're going and how to get there, your vision statement will become clear. 

Write down your goals using the SMART method. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-based. In other words, you want a specific, realistic goal that's relevant to your business. 

You'll also want to set your goals on a timeline. That way, you can track your progress over time. 

How will you measure your success? Can you break one big goal into smaller ones?

Once you determine a list of clear goals, consider a strategy. What methods will you use to achieve your goal?
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Understanding your goals as a company will help you understand what you're trying to achieve together. However, your goals are only one component you'll need to write the vision statement. 

2. Define Your Values

Once you have your goals, consider your company values. What qualities are important to your company in the long-term? You might realize that your values for the future aren't your company values in the present. 

For example, you might condense your company value into one word, such as "communication." A clinic, on the other hand, might want to "provide quality healthcare to those in need." Determining your company's values will help you on the path to creating your vision statement.

Once you have your values, line them up beside your goals.

How do they overlap?
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Together, your goals and values will help you recognize what you want to accomplish in the future.

3. Expand Your Mission Statement

40% of millennial employees surveyed felt a strong connection to their company's mission. Your mission statement is another important component of your company's vision statement. 

How will your company grow over time? What will it become? Your vision statement considers what you already do and expands it further.

Before you can write the vision statement, you need to consider your company's mission. 

Your mission statement considers why you're trying to accomplish your goals. Why do you provide your product or service?

Then, make sure your mission statement aligns with the goals and values you noted above. 

Where is your company in the present? What point do you want to reach in the future?

Once you have your mission statement, goals, and values defined, you can start building your vision statement. 

4. Keep It Simple

A lengthy, convoluted vision statement won't excite your employees and motivate them at work. Keeping your vision statement has two purposes. First, it helps your employees understand and support the company's vision.

Second, it's more likely you'll achieve your goals if your vision is simple. 

A complicated vision statement, on the other hand, won't help you turn that vision into a reality.

Instead, make sure you're not reaching towards too many directions. This could split everyone's focus and impact the end result's quality. Rather, you want to concentrate your energy on the path that will take your company the furthest.

Take a look at your rough draft. Which pieces of your vision statement are absolutely necessary? Then, cut out the rest. 
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Keep your vision statement focused and simple in order to ensure it's achievable. 

6. Think Ahead

A strong vision statement is exactly that: a vision. It's meant to help you look toward the future. In order to write a strong vision statement, you need to remain forward-thinking.

That includes considering your company's future and your industry's future as well.

Make sure your vision is scalable and sustainable. If your vision can't grow, it could potentially hold your company back.

If your vision can't handle rapid growth, it could cause you to fall behind competitors. Instead, think of a vision statement that looks to the future. How can you continuously build your company over time?

Consider your industry's landscape, current trends, and possibilities for growth as you write the vision statement.

You can read this article to create a winning brand strategy and propel your business forward.

7. Determine a Timeline

A forward-thinking vision statement will require a specific timeline.

Take a look at the goals you created earlier. Did you break them down into small goals and milestones? Set these milestones on a timeline.
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Keeping a specific timeline will help you keep your company on track for success. At the same time, it will help you ensure your vision is on track as well.

Looking Ahead: How to Write the Vision Statement Your Company Needs

Look ahead and accomplish your goals! Now that you know how to write the vision statement your company needs, you can propel your company forward.
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Explore our Marketing Integration posts for more tips!