Encyclopedia of Leadership

HOW DOES A VISION STATEMENT FIT WITH OTHER STATEMENTS?

If you lead a unit or a project inside a larger organization, your vision should be nested

inside the larger organizational vision.

HOW TO USE THIS LEADERSHIP TOOL

In Jack Welch’s GE, “There is no room for anyone who is not an ‘A’ player ...with a vision and the

ability to articulate that vision to others so vividly and powerfully that it becomes their vision.”

—Mikel Harry and Richard Schroeder, SIX SIGMA

Creating a vision statement can be a messy process. Most vision statements start with an indi-

vidual and are refined through a number of iterations. It takes time and energy to develop and

communicate a statement, garner support, and, most importantly, achieve aligned action.

Don’t get bogged down. Remember Shaun Murphy’s saying, “It’s better to have vision than a

vision statement.”

1. First draft by an individual leader:
   − Note the principles for establishing a vision, and the reality checks listed in the
   next section.
   − Be clear about your givens and where you need help. (You may have difficulty
   enrolling others if you are too rigid about your statement. Conversely, a vision-by-
   committee will rarely be engaging.)

52 SECTION 2 TOOLS FORBIG-PICTURETHINKING

Typical Statements Time Span

Vision

Mission/Purpose Statement

Values

Strategies

Goals, Objectives

Action Plans

Long-term

Amount of Information Short-term

Organizational

Vision

Workgroup

Vision Project Vision