The hardest part in defining your vision: Getting Started
As with many things in business and life, getting started is the most difficult part. Defining your company’s vision, mission and values can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. All you need is a whiteboard, markers and a cross-section of people on your team. You can make it more complicated, but you don’t have to. Use this cheat sheet and put a long list of words on your board. You will see which ones resonate, then narrow it down. This first step is just that, a first step, but that is usually the most difficult step. Don’t be surprised if you have fun in the process.
There are many ways to define mission, vision and values — Here’s a simple way to start.
MISSION STATEMENT: What an organization does and for whom.
VISION STATEMENT: What an organization desires to achieve in the long run (usually 5-10 years).
VALUE STATEMENTS: Beliefs, philosophies and principles that drive your organization.
