Clarifying Your Vision

In my monthly business coaching session this month one of the main points of our discussion was around maintaining clarity on our vision. For me, our vision is what keeps us on track and more.  It reminds us of our purpose, our why, and what we want to create.

What the video below to find out more.

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Here is a script of for my video if you prefer to read it.

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Hello, I’m Sandra Pollock, Founder of Open Mind Training & Development, your Business Coach.

I support business leaders and organisations to improve their focus and strategy around leadership and management, organisational change, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Clarity on Your Vision

Knowing where you’re going

Today I’d like to answer a question about business direction.

We all start our businesses with an idea of what we want to achieve but the daily calls on our time, can over a period distract us and lead us on a different path.

Before we know it, we’ve lost motivation, feel uninspired and wonder why we started this business in the first place.

I work with many clients, particularly small and medium-sized businesses who are doing well but still have not made the best of clarifying their vision for the business.

When you then begin to grow, take on more staff and expand your customer base, lack of clarity on your vision can be one of the things that impact negatively on your ability to grow, attract the right customers and investors.

And more importantly for you, as the leader of your business, when things get difficult, you feel overwhelmed or tired, without what I would call your centre base of clarify you can lose yourself.

Now the mistake many business owners make is to only think about the vision for their business when they are considering applying for funding from a bank or investors.

But the vision for your business is something that will keep you focused in all areas of your business activities. It is like the golden thread running through everything you do.

From your vision you will always find the answers to your what, when, where, how, who and why.

So, in this session, we’re talking about your vision.

• A vision is an initially almost unmeasurable idea that should provide unity or purpose and inspire those who engage in and with the business.
• The vision does not mention or talk about markets or targets and is durable i.e. it does not change.

Your vision is what will inspire you as the leader when you need inspiration and there will be times that you do. Your vision is what will remind you, when you get lost, discouraged, or overwhelmed why you set out on this path in the first place.

Your vision is what will inspire, engage, and excite other people of like minds and encourage them to get involved in your business, whether as an employee, an investor or even as a volunteer. Your vision should be the thing that makes people automatically say, yes, I want to be a part of that.

Your vision should be clear and uncluttered.  It should be easy for you to role it off your tongue.

Here are a few easy visions statements

NASA Vision: To discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity.

There was a time before this when their vision was to ‘Put a man on the moon’ but they’ve done that one now.

But you can see how either of these vision statements would engage, inspire, encourage, and make others want to be a part of their business?

The vision statement also tells people what you’re about.  It answers the what are you doing, where are you headed, why are you doing it.

In simple terms, your business vision is a statement that says what you want the world to be like.  It is your picture of the future you want to create through your business or project. It is an image, of what the future will look like.

For my leadership development business, my vision statement is ‘Leaders with clarity and focus.’

This is what I’m passionate about helping leaders create within themselves and within their organisations.

Whenever I think about that statement it gets me excited and inspired to keep moving forward.

 

So, here are a couple of questions for you.

Have you written down your business vision?

Writing it down moves it from your head into the light of day of reality.  It helps you to shine the light on it for yourself and others.

Have you shared this with your staff?  Do your team know what they are working with you to achieve?  This is the what and why for them (and you) that will help them to develop and focus on the who, how, and where.

Your vision brings your business to life.

Without a clear vision statement, we can forget our purpose and what we’re trying to achieve. Creating a clear vision statement is as important for you, as it is for anyone else.

So, if you’ve not done so already, take some time out to write your vision statement. Remember, your vision statement should be clear and uncluttered.  It should not include measurement, markets, or targets.

Your vision is durable and does not change.

It should be easy for you to say.

If you’d like some support working to clarify your vision and to create a vision statement that’s right for you, I’d be happy to help.

You can reach me by visiting my website or via my social media streams.

I am Sandra Pollock your business coach, signing off for now.  See you next month.