Developing a vision, mission and values

Developing a vision, mission and values is the foundation for long term success, as demonstrated by Collins & Porras in Built to Last, the Disney organisation, and Dee Hock at Visa.

If a vision and mission is recognised by all stakeholders and affects every hiring, strategic decision and communication; its effect can be magic.

Proof

Just read Built to Last by James C Collins & Jerry I Porras – it is the one book that every manager should read.

What makes the truly exceptional companies different from the other companies? Core values and a purpose, which are aligned through all recruitment, training, controls and decision making.

How can Disney get 38,000 employees to operate as one, to react to thousands of different situations a day – yet consistently? Same answer.

How did Dee Hock create an entirely new type of organisation, VISA, that now dominates financial transactions across the world with a seamless service? Same answer.

A serious business

Developing a vision, mission and values is a serious business. It takes time . And commitment. But it is worth it.

Dee Hock reckons that starting from scratch it takes a year to do it properly. We certainly recommend a three day workshop for the top team – and then much consultation and further development to follow.

Of course, for an existing company there is much already in existence, though it might not be recognised, and it might not be what you want!

Vision

A vision helps unite people towards a purpose. Creating and living a vision is the role of leaders in organisations. They have to espouse it and help others to believe it.

Visions are aesthetic and moral, they come from within as well as outside.

According to Disney, a successful vision accomplishes six goals:

• gives a sense of the future
• guides decision making and strategy
• creates a shared purpose
• provides guidelines that determine behaviour
• inspires emotion
• connects to values

Mission

A mission statement is a unifying statement of what an organisation is in business to do. It is a key reference point in the planning and implementation of change.

A mission statement is a description of the organisation's key purposes.

Values

Values are the beliefs of an organisation, the expression of what it stands for and how it will conduct itself. Values are the core of an organisation's being. They underpin policies, objectives, procedures and strategies because they provide an anchor and a reference point for all things that happen.

And what about yourself?

Indeed. Just the same applies to yourself. You would not set out on a journey without a compass. Or a map. Or a destination! So what about in life? Do you have a vision of your future, a mission in life? Have you explicitly identified your personal values.

We have been working with groups and individuals for many years and always we seek to identify vision, mission and values – and then integrate them between individual and organisation. A personal mission statement. That gives you power.

We use a range of tools, including the balanced scorecard and Robert Dilts' neurological levels, together with supportive questioning.

Find out more

We don't know whether you would like to review your own vision or mission, or that of your team or organisation. Or learn more about facilitation. You could contact us now. Or you could explore more of the site or our resources or book reviews.

Or, of course, you could do nothing.

The choice is yours.

Why not contact us now.