By Cara Parker, C Parker Consulting, Inc
Are vision and mission statements the same thing? What’s the difference between the two and do I really need both for my organization? Let’s delve into these questions by first highlighting the benefits of having both a vision and mission statement for your organization.
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Having both are absolutely necessary in order to set the stage for the rest of your strategic plan. Explicitly, they form the foundation of your strategy and set the direction for your organization. More specifically, benefits of vision and mission statements include: prioritization of budgets, highlights skill gaps in the workforce, forms the basis for decision making and problem solving, focuses marketing and product promotion needs, and supports forecasting for your customer base and financials.
Let’s start with vision. The vision of your organization is your polar star. It’s visible throughout your organization and is used as a compass to set direction from all angles within your organization. And just as the polar star has five points—your vision should have five points.