From Purpose to Possibility: Crafting an Inspiring Vision Statement

Ready for your team to look toward the future? Then it’s time to create your vision statement.

Your vision statement represents who you want to be. It’s an aspirational view of who you want to become over time. When you think of your department five to ten years from now, what does it look like? How have you evolved from who you are currently, and what have you accomplished?

Think of your vision like a destination: You need to clearly see where you’re going so you don’t accidentally run in the wrong direction. It keeps your team focused on a shared goal that you can all contribute to over time. As Forbes notes, a powerful vision statement should guide your future decision-making and keep your team motivated when challenges arise.

Consider your answers to the following questions to begin formulating your vision statement:

• When you imagine your department in the future, how does it look different than it does right now?

• What goals do you plan to accomplish in the future, and how do you plan to do so?

• What unique role do you hope to play in your brand as you grow?

• How do you envision making an impact on society in the long term?

To make your vision statement as accurate as possible, you should also consider the way your team fits into the bigger puzzle of your brand. The visions of related departments may impact your own, so consider collaborating with other leaders who impact your team to make sure your vision is realistic and accurate.

As you move forward with the writing process, keep these additional tips in mind:

Keep it Future-Focused: The language you use in your vision statement should reflect goals and future achievements, not your present work. Words like “strive” or “aspire” are often used to emphasize that this is a work in progress.

Be Bold, But Realistic: Your vision statement should inspire others but still be achievable in the end. If your vision is unrealistic, it can end up demoralizing your team instead. Keep it challenging but achievable to keep motivation high, and focus on the impact you hope to have on campus.

Collaborate with Others: Just like with your mission statement, your team should be included in the creation process. Vision statements are most effective when they inspire the whole team, so it’s important that everyone has the opportunity to contribute to the process.

Make it Memorable: A good vision statement is concise, but still impactful. Aim for one to two sentences that are relatively easy for team members to remember. If you’re struggling with the wording, consider asking UT Verse for help, or starting with this template:

“Our vision is to [aspirational goal] by [specific approach or focus]. In the future, we envision ourselves as [impact on your audience/the brand].”

Remember that your vision might change over time as your priorities realign. If surrounding departments shift focus, your own team’s goals may begin to evolve. Don’t be afraid to edit your vision as needed to keep it accurate to your team’s goals and intentions.

Interested in some more hands-on help with writing your vision statement? Reach out today for my coaching and development services. I would love to help your team on your strategic planning journey.