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Vision: Your Guiding Star for Startup Success
A vision is more than a nice phrase on the wall – it is the vivid image of your future that inspires and unites the entire company, from employees to customers.
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Vision: the guiding star for your startup success
A vision is more than just a nice-sounding sentence on the office wall – it is the living embodiment of your future that inspires and unites the whole business, from employees to customers.
What is a vision?
Every successful startup begins with a clear vision. This is the guiding star that shows you and your team the way – a true source of motivation and inspiration. A strong vision creates clarity over your business’s long-term goals and defines why it exists in the first place. It answers the following questions:
- What do we want to achieve?
- Who are we doing it for?
- How big are we thinking?
Why is a vision important?
A vision has to be ambitious and inspiring, but it can also throw down a challenge. The sky is the limit – but it is important to be realistic too. Your team will only be wholly on board if they can identify with the vision. A true vision is a promise that motivates, inspires and calls for action.
How do you develop a compelling vision?
Developing a strong vision starts by asking what do we really want to achieve? However, it’s not just a question of ‘what’, but – above all – ‘why’. A good vision is unique and avoids clichés and empty phrases. It is so distinctive that it stays in peoples’ minds. The clearer and more tangible the vision, the greater its impact.
Challenges
Formulating the vision in plain language
Your vision may be clear in your own mind, but the hard part is formulating it in a way that makes it comprehensible for all stakeholders. It must be clear and easy to understand – for everyone.
Living out the vision in your day-to-day operations
A vision must be felt in your business’s day-to-day operations. All too often, it remains just words on paper, either because it is too abstract or because there isn't a tangible plan in place for implementing it.
Staying flexible without losing your core identity
The market is constantly evolving, and startups sometimes have to adapt their vision. But in doing so, there is a risk that they lose sight of what they originally stood for.
Common mistakes
Using empty phrases instead of clear words
A common stumbling block is a vision filled with vague phrases and clichés, such as ‘We set new standards’ or ‘We lead through innovation’. It may sound good, but it doesn’t say much.
Setting unrealistic targets
A vision that is overly ambitious or unattainable can demotivate your team. A startup that sets out to be the market leader in a year’s time but doesn’t have the resources or a solid plan in place is more likely to end up frustrated than successful.
Not involving the team
If the vision is only developed by the leadership team, employees can feel left out. Often, the management will define the vision behind closed doors without involving team members. The result is that employees struggle to relate to the vision and lack motivation.
Three practical tips
Think big
Dreaming is allowed – and even encouraged! Imagine what would be possible if you had all the resources you needed.
Be specific
No empty phrases, please! A clear, tangible vision that everyone understands will capture their hearts and minds.
Live out your vision
The vision belongs in meetings, discussions and important decisions! Repeat it over and over, and keep it alive. This way, it will become a genuine motivating force for everyone in the business.
Presented by Swisscom
This article was sponsored by Swisscom. The insights from this Do were collaboratively developed during the IFJ Partner Summit.
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