I’m a big fan of vision and mission statements. Many people think they’re fluff but I truly believe they are valuable tools. I think vision and mission statements are misunderstood, and are really much more difficult to write than one might think. For example should a vision change yearly? When you communicate your vision are you really communicating a road map of activities?

Here are two analogies I thought of that calls out the difference between a roadmap and a vision.

Scenario 1) As the leader of my family, i gather my children around and tell them. “Kids, we’ve got a good chunk of money put aside and we’re going to use it. Tomorrow we’re going to get up at the crack of dawn and get in the car. We’re going to spend 12 hours driving and then we’ll stop for the night. We’ve got 500 dollars allocated for this already. The next day we’ll get back in the car and drive another 12 hours. Here we’ll commit 3000 dollars over the next 5 days. after which we’ll get back in the car drive 12 hours stop for the night and drive another 12 hours the following day. Isn’t it great that Mommy and Daddy are spending this much money on you?”

How was that as a vision? Would my kids look forward to the literal and figurative Long road ahead?

Scenario 2)

I gather my kids around and say. “Kids we’re taking a road trip to Disney World”

Of these two options which would inspire and drive my kids. Which would help them understand what the overall goal is.

The point here is that, to me, a vision is a long term objective that inspires people and conveys the destination. Something that even if there is a detour in the road, serves as a guide post helping you get back on path to the right direction. It helps you get through the long boring drives, or stressful days at work. It brings people together in a collective goal and guides teams toward a shared future.

A vision is more than a road map or a play by play of what is coming up next. A vision is communication of where we are trying to go, not how we’re are getting there.