Why you should give your employees a vision
Jonas Reuter
Visions are important. Visions help companies to communicate and internalize goals and priorities. As a manager, it is important to have and communicate a clear vision so that it can be understood and shared by employees.
Why a vision?
A vision can help to change and improve the corporate culture. It provides employees with a common direction and a common goal and can help to align everyone towards the same, thus strengthening the company as a whole.
Companies with vision are more successful
A vision can be a very powerful tool to raise awareness and understanding of the company's goals and priorities. Studies show that companies with a clear vision of the future are more successful than those without.
Visions must be linked to goals
To ensure that the vision is also implemented, it is important to link the goals of the employees to it. This means that each person in the company aligns their individual goals in such a way that they contribute to the implementation of the vision. In this way, it can become a common guideline for the actions of all employees.
A clear picture of what can be, what should be, what you want to achieve.
- Stephen Covey on a vision in "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People"
Take your time!
In order to develop a vision, it is important to take time and carefully consider what goals are to be achieved and what values are to be conveyed. It is important that it is authentic and relevant to everyone in the company. A vision must be clear and unambiguous so that it can be understood and shared by all employees.
An important factor
A vision is an important factor for the holistic change of a company. By developing and communicating a vision, it is possible to improve the corporate culture, strengthen awareness and understanding of the company's goals and priorities and thus also promote employee motivation and satisfaction. however, a vision must be carefully developed and should be shared and internalized by everyone in the company. Only then can it be successfully implemented.
10 impulses for your vision
Whether you already have a business vision that you want to review or you are on your way to developing a new one, reviewing and answering these questions will give you valuable insight. They offer you the opportunity to look at your current situation and your future goals from a new perspective. It's not just about formulating a vision, but also about how this vision can be integrated into the culture of your organization and communicated effectively at all levels. We at MORGEN Consulting understand that this process can be challenging and we are here to support you through it. We invite you to book a free 30-minute sparring call with us. In this conversation, we can take a fresh look at your thinking and help you sharpen your vision and achieve your business goals.
Our vision
Companies see change as a positive change and develop new sustainable and valuable business models for a future worth living.
The impact of a vision on motivation
A clear vision can increase employee motivation in many ways. Firstly, it gives employees a clear idea of where the company is heading and what goal is to be achieved. This gives the impression that the work they do has a deeper meaning and contributes to something bigger. This allows employees to identify more strongly with the company and feel more connected to it. On the other hand, a vision can also help to create a sense of community and togetherness. If all employees agree on the same vision and set out together to achieve it, this can create a strong sense of togetherness, which in turn leads to higher motivation. Overall, a clear vision helps employees feel like they are part of something big and meaningful, and that can make a big difference in their motivation and job satisfaction.
How a vision can improve teamwork
A shared vision can help improve teamwork by creating a common direction and improving employees' understanding of their colleagues' roles and responsibilities. When all employees have a clear idea of where the company is headed, they can better understand how their individual roles and responsibilities fit into the bigger picture. This can help employees collaborate and coordinate their work better. A shared vision can also help to avoid misunderstandings and conflicts, as all employees have a common understanding of what the company wants to achieve. A shared vision should also be communicated regularly within the team so that all employees are always up to date and can focus on the common goals. Through clear communication and collaboration, a shared vision can help a team work more effectively and be successful.
How a vision contributes to loyalty
A vision can help employees stay with the company in the long term by providing perspective and increasing motivation. If employees have the feeling that they are working on something bigger than just their day-to-day work, they are more likely to commit to the company in the long term. A vision can also help employees identify with the company and feel more connected to the company's values and goals. This can help employees take pride in their work and identify with the company. Employees should understand how their work contributes to the realization of the vision and how they can contribute to it. It is also important that the company creates a culture that supports and promotes the values and goals of the vision. A positive work environment and clear communication can help employees feel connected to the company and stay with it for the long term.
How to develop a vision
Developing a vision can be a challenge, but there are some tried and tested methods that can help. First, you should take time to think about the fundamental direction of the company and where you want to go. It can be helpful to talk to other managers, employees or external experts to hear different perspectives and get a broader view. Once you have a rough idea of your vision, you should work on formulating it as concretely as possible. The vision should have a clear purpose that excites and motivates all employees. It can also be helpful to present the vision on a visual level, e.g. through a picture or graphic that makes the vision vivid and tangible. To ensure that the vision is supported by all employees, it should also be communicated transparently and feedback should be obtained from the employees.
10 steps to developing a vision
- Gather information: Gather information about the industry, customers, competitors and the general economic situation. Investigate the most important trends and changes that could affect the industry in the coming years.
- Form a vision team: Put together a vision team consisting of employees from different departments and levels of the company. It is important that the team is representative and brings in different perspectives.
- Define the mission: Make sure that your mission is clearly defined and forms the basis for your vision. A mission describes what the company does and the values it pursues.
- Define the vision: Define your vision by focusing on long-term goals. A vision should be inspiring and motivating and describe the company's goal.
- Review values and guiding principles: Review your values and guiding principles to ensure they align with your vision and mission.
- Gather feedback: Gather feedback from employees, customers and other stakeholders to ensure that your vision and mission are supported by everyone.
- Create goals: Create goals and milestones that will enable the company to achieve its vision and mission.
- Develop strategies: Develop strategies and action plans to achieve your goals. Ensure that your strategies are in line with your vision and mission.
- Implement measures: Implement the measures and monitor their effectiveness. Adjust the measures if they are not having the desired effect.
- Review the vision: Review your vision regularly and adjust it if circumstances change. Ensure that your vision is always up-to-date and relevant.
Adaptable visions: A foundation for success
A successful vision should not be static, but should evolve and change over time to meet the changing needs of the industry and market. It is important to regularly review the vision and adjust it if necessary to ensure that it is still relevant and inspiring. A period of two to three years is usually appropriate to review and, if necessary, update a vision. This gives the company enough time to achieve its goals while responding to changes in the industry. However, it is important to emphasize that in some cases it may be necessary to review the vision more quickly or more slowly, depending on the circumstances and the dynamics of the industry.
What place does your company have in the world of TOMORROW?
MORGEN helps managing directors with the right questions to transform their companies.
Why involving employees in the development of a vision is important
Involving employees in the development of a vision is a key factor in the success of a company. Employees who are involved in the development of the vision have a deeper understanding of the company's goals and values and are more willing to commit to them. When employees are involved in the development process, they also feel more connected to the company and are more inclined to use their own skills and talents to contribute to the realization of the vision.
Companies can use various methods to involve employees in the development process of a vision. For example, focus groups can be set up in which employees can exchange ideas and feedback. Online surveys or workshops can also be used to gather opinions and concerns. It is also important to make sure that all levels of the company are involved in the development process to ensure that the vision is supported by all employees and that all areas of the company are aligned with it. When employees are involved in the vision development process, it can help create a vision that is better aligned with the needs and interests of all stakeholders.
Vision vs. mission
Although vision and mission are often used interchangeably, there are differences between the two concepts. While the vision is a long-term, inspiring and broad idea of the company's future, the mission describes the company's present and short-term goals. The mission describes what the company is doing to achieve its vision and what values it is pursuing. A mission can therefore be seen as a concrete step on the way to the vision. In order to formulate a vision and mission, managers should be aware that a vision sets the long-term direction of the company, while the mission describes the practical steps to implement this vision. In practice, vision and mission should be closely linked and mutually supportive
Our mission
We pave the way for the simple transformation of companies into a digital, sustainable and valuable MORGEN.
Frequently asked questions about the vision
A vision is a clear, inspiring idea of what a company wants to achieve in the future. A vision can help create a common goal for the company that motivates employees and gives them a sense of purpose. A well-articulated vision can also help set a clear direction for the company and set it apart from the competition.
A vision should be formulated by the company management, but should also take into account input from other employees and stakeholders. The vision should be clear and concise and describe a goal that is relevant to everyone in the company. It can be helpful to formulate a vision that is long-term oriented and focuses on the values and goals of the company.
A vision should not just be on paper, but should also be actively integrated into the corporate culture. It is important to communicate the vision regularly and ensure that it is understood and supported by everyone in the company. The vision should also be taken into account in the company's business processes and decisions.
A vision can motivate employees by creating a common goal that is relevant to everyone in the company. A well-articulated vision can also convey a sense of meaning and make employees identify more strongly with the company and its goals. A vision can also help to retain employees as they feel more connected to the company.
It is important to regularly check whether the company's vision is being implemented. This can be done by reviewing business processes and decisions as well as through employee surveys and performance evaluations. It is also important to ensure that the vision is regularly updated to ensure that it remains relevant and aligned with the changing needs of the organization and its employees.
A vision can help to make the company fit for the future by creating a clear and inspiring framework for the long-term development of the company. A vision can help drive innovation, open up new business areas and prepare the company for future challenges.
Employees can contribute to realizing the company's vision by using their individual skills and talents to contribute to the company's success. It is important to support employees in understanding their role in realizing the vision and to provide them with the necessary resources and training.
A vision can help to gain the trust of customers and business partners by conveying a clear picture of the company's values and goals. A well-formulated vision can also help the company to stand out from the competition and be perceived as an attractive partner.
A vision can help to improve the working atmosphere in the company by giving employees a common goal and motivating them to work together to achieve this goal. A vision can also help to boost employees' self-confidence and encourage them to take responsibility and actively participate in the company's development.
A vision can help strengthen employees' identification with the company by creating a sense of belonging and common purpose. A well-articulated vision can also help position the company as an attractive employer and attract and retain talented employees.
A vision is an important factor for the holistic change of a company. By developing and communicating a vision, it is possible to improve the corporate culture, strengthen awareness and understanding of the company's goals and priorities and thus also promote employee motivation and satisfaction. however, a vision must be carefully developed and should be shared and internalized by everyone in the company. Only then can it be successfully implemented.
We ask the right questions
Our workshop card set includes a selection of around 50 cards with impulse questions on the topics of sustainability, digitalization, values and customer centricity, which you can use to work on new business models. You can find more impulse questions in our digitalization tool MORGEN People.
Start
TOMORROW
with MORGENM
Jonas Reuter
About us:
MORGEN is a specialized management consultancy that focuses on the development of new business models for medium-sized companies. In particular, it supports owner-managed companies in their future-proof transformation. Knowledge transfer is at the heart of its consulting activities, which is why the MORGEN Blog regularly publishes articles on key topics such as digitalization, transformation, customer centricity and sustainability.