What kind of business is your vision statement building?
Image credit Frédéric BISSON via flickr under the creative commons license.
Most companies have a classic vision statement. A mission. A concise definition of who they are and what they’re after. It’s a great tool to have as a business to keep you focused and help your potential clients understand what you offer. Too bad it’s not good enough.
I recently had a meeting with a corporate client wanting to develop just such a tool, and instead we ended up coming up with a list of company values that will govern not just what they are, but how they will behave and who they will be. We evaluated together how they want to engage with their clients; how they want to influence their team members internally and externally; and the standard by which they will hold themselves accountable. Ultimately, a vision statement is rooted in these values, but a values statement takes it that much deeper. Previously I wrote about how I wish people would ask my daughters who they want to be, instead of what they want to do. A values statement is the equivalent challenge for companies. Values such as:
Partnership, because none of us is as smart as all of us
Trust in ourselves and each other
Insatiable Curiosity
Innovation
Competition
and Being World Class
…to name a few. A list of values can inform every business decision you make. When you come to a crossroads, ask yourself which direction reflects your values. It might be the road less traveled, but if you stick to your company’s values it will be a road well worth traveling.
A vision statement might tell what you want your company to be doing, but your values describe who you want to be.
