You know your business Vision in terms of its’ ‘wording’…but is it still relevant in terms application? And do your employees interpret your Vision the same way as you? Could it be that October is the ideal time to ‘Spring’ clean a Vision?…
SOMETIMES the hardest part about being a small business owner is that your advantage of being ‘hands on’ in your business; can be your disadvantage when it comes to knowing when it’s time to change direction.
When we all started out in business, I guarantee we all sat down with a notepad and pen and scribbled down ideas, concepts and goals, and without knowing it, drafted up our ‘Vision’.
It is these old notes and passion for our business that have kept us on our paths ever since, but is this still the path we need or are we just going along with the flow?
Changing a business Vision, is a very very big deal and not something I would suggest you change for the sake of change. However, it is something you need to consider even if it’s simply a ‘Vision health check’.
The outcome will most likely be, ‘yes that’s right, that’s where we are still headed’. The good thing is that even a simple ‘Vision health check’ has the effect of re-drawing your energy toward your original Vision. So even if your Vision doesn’t need to change, the process often adds some refreshed energy to your existing Vision.
Sometimes a business Vision doesn’t need to be radically changed as such, but simply refreshed – it might need an extra element or a deletion to re-position it.
Or like last month’s article, where we spoke about being socially responsible, you might now want to include an element about being a good corporate citizen.
So how do you check the health of your Vision – it’s quite easy. What is it? What did you intend to get out of it? And are you continuing to position everything in your business to get it?
If yes, that’s terrific, if yes sort of, then that’s great too, but what elements can you add or delete to align perfectly. And if no, then what an exciting time you have ahead, where you can sit down and set out where you really want your business to go and how.
Having a Vision is not just about words on paper, it is about having somewhere to go and putting everything you have to get there. Where your early employees might have been part of your original Vision process and know where it is you are headed, a renewed health check of your Vision is an ideal time to bring your new employees along for the journey too.
Your business Vision, must be forward thinking, it must be everything you want your business to be, but most importantly, your business must align to it, or those old notes you had when you first started will be just that – old notes.
Shelley Evans-Wild
Managing Director
Unique People & NeuroPower Learning & Development
