From Working Leadership Online on the subject of Planning.
Question:
I see the guidelines for creating a vision, but it seems a little far-fetched. Actually, I think most vision statements are far-fetched. They are too vague, or too warm and fuzzy. They describe a world that doesn’t exist.
Response:
Exactly, a world that doesn’t exist. Planning is about creating the future. And you are right, most vision statements are too vague. A vision statement should describe a specific point in time and should be detailed, rather than vague. Whenever I write a plan, my vision statement is often the longest part of the whole plan. It is detailed in its description of how things look and how things work. The more descriptive the vision, the easier the rest of planning steps flow.
I’ve always thought of a vision as an idealistic picture painted with words. I think a long term Vision needs to be somewhat vague, as it must bend and morph as the world around us changes. Too rigid and you’ll be back at the drawing board every year trying to figure out where are we going, NOW!
What I find utterly useless, is the use of words and phrases like “world-class & superior†– honestly, can ANYONE actually define those with ANY level of certainty??? I agree that most Visions are packed with useless paper wasting warm, fuzzy, rah-rah, feel-good statements that have no real meaning whatsoever!
I was meeting with a CEO who leads an innovative company. He stated he never uses the word vision. Vision is what you as the leader see and you are forcing your reality upon the organization.
A leader should create a mission. A mission is a goal a tangible hand hold, a vision is a utopian fallacy.
Once a leader forces his vision it becomes a Brave New World of disapointment
Vision is what an artist puts on a canvas or shapes out clay or stone. Mission is a promise – a promise that each member of that organization will follow and recognize by all.