One of the things I often run into when working with leaders is this matter of mission vs. vision. There have been quite a few times when I have asked a friend or colleague the mission or vision of their business and they have no idea. When I have received an answer, it is usually something like, “I am not really sure, but they are about the same anyway. Right?” The answer to that question is emphatically, “No, they are not the same!”
The first problem with this scenario revolves around the inability for organizational leaders to adequately communicate the mission AND vision in clear, relevant ways. If you want people to work with their minds only – keep them in the dark and do not spend much time talking to them. If you want people to work with their hearts, minds, and souls – take the time to articulate a clear, well thought out mission and vision. Then spend the time, money, and energy necessary to own it yourself and to communicate it to your people. If you want your employees to give their all day in and day out, cast a vision worth working toward and a mission that empowers them to make it happen.
The difference between your mission and vision is like night and day. The mission is how the organization successfully achieves its vision. The following statements characterize some of the differences:
Mission:
1. Defines the organization’s purpose, objectives, and the approach to reach those objectives.
2. It focuses on what must happen today.
3. “What is wrong with the world and how you intend to fix it.”
4. What do you want your employees (followers, donors, board members if you are a nonprofit) to be focused on while they do their job each day? What are they centered on daily?
5. A great mission always inspires them toward peak performance today.
Vision:
1. Describes the future position of the business or organization.
2. It focuses on tomorrow.
3. “What the world will look like after you have finished changing it.”
4. What do you want your employees (followers, donors, board members if you are a nonprofit) to be working toward? What are they looking to for inspiration for the future?
5. A great vision always inspires them to want more, reach for more, and create more opportunities for the future.
If you have a mission and vision and they do not look like this, you need to reconsider them. If you do not have a mission or vision, then you need to develop them, communicate them, and re-evaluate them on a regular basis to ensure they remain relevant for where you are. If you are stuck on either of them or both of them, perhaps we should talk. They are vital for the health and growth of your business or organization.
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