On National Women’s Enterprise Day I was privileged to attend an event where Theresa Grant OBE shared the story of her amazing career as CEO and agent of transformation in the UK public sector.
She spoke incredibly well and inspired everyone there. When asked what the characteristics of a good leader are or how to be a good leader, she gave some great advice, including:
- Have clarity of vision
- Have the ability to convey this vision to the workforce
- Be accountable
- Learn from mistakes
- Take people with you
- Stay focused
- Look after yourself
- Movitate and inspire your team
- Make more good leaders
- Surround yourself with good people
- Show compassion
- Be direct
I thought about the first item on Theresa’s list – clarity of vision. We hear business leaders talking about vision so often, but do we really know what it means, how to develop it and, more importantly in my view, how to use it?
Developing Your Business’s Vision
- It is a good idea to involve any key members of your team in this exercise.
- Imagine the world in 10 years’ time, from your business’s perspective.
- That may seem a little far ahead but as Bill Gates says “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”
- Dream big – a Vision Statement should evoke an emotional response from your team and stakeholders – a big goal that they can get behind.
- Think about how your business will have grown by then in terms of customers you serve and where they are, sales, profits and team.
- What will your business have become known for?
- How will processes, systems etc have changed?
- How will your business have helped customers, what difference will you have made in their lives?
- A Vision Statement should have ambition and drive the direction of your business.
Using Your Business’s Vision Statement
Check your vision to ensure that it is feasible
Work back to create the milestones that would lead to your vision
Write down the steps that would be needed to make these milestones and the end vision a reality
This becomes the core part of your business plan
Find a way to state your vision so that everyone understands it and that it inspires all to reach that big dream goal
Share the business vision often with your team and review it on a regular basis to check progress
Vision Statement Examples
Amazon:
To be earth’s most customer-centric company; to build a place where people can come to find and discover anything they might want to buy online.
Microsoft:
To help people and businesses throughout the world realise their full potential.
What’s Your Vision?
Do you have a Vision Statement for your business? If not, give it a go – it will definitely help in your business growth and marketing planning.
Keep it simple, memorable and inspiring and use it regularly in your decision-making – this will help turn your vision into a reality.
