What's Your Vision?
In an article about the importance of vision, a consulting company that shall remain nameless here, shared their vision as if it was something terrific. The vision: “to be the partner of choice for non-profit organizations”
That, my friends, is not particularly visionary. To begin with, it is all about them. And it feels a lot like: We want to be the partner of choice so we can make the most money. It says nothing about what they actually give to their clients nor does it explain why they should be the partner of choice.
A true vision should be transformational. It should be an aspirational description of what you want to achieve. Instead of wanting to be wanted, perhaps their vision might consider making the nonprofit sector more effective or ensuring that nonprofits can move their missions forward.
Mission is important in our sector. Indeed, to get to your vision, an organization must have clarity about their mission. They must also have reason to believe that their mission truly makes a difference for the communities and causes they work with and for.
Conflating what is in it for me with why what we do matters is something too many organizations (for profit companies, politicians, us all) do all too often. Mission gives us purpose; vision shows not only what success looks like but why this success is important. If it only important to make your organization rich and/or famous…well, call me starry-eyed, but I think there is much more to life than that.
All this means is that your focus has to be on what you change. If you don’t change anything, what’s the purpose? “We do what we do in order to keep everything the same,” is not aspirational. It’s not exciting. Nor is a proclamation that “we will be the best” or the first, or yes, the go-to organization.
Consider: What are the changes you want to make? What would that changed world look like? For example, if your mission is to provide quality childcare to families in your community at or below the poverty level, your vision may be to ensure that all families in our community have access to excellent childcare. Your vision flows from your mission; it takes your mission to its logical conclusion. If you are a foodbank your vision may be a world where no one goes hungry.
In a recent blog at Launchopedia (https://fundingsage.com/about-launchopedia/), a source for entrepreneurs seeking funding, Matthew Cleek suggested asking yourself the following questions:
What problem does my organization seek to solve?
Why do I believe this problem needs to be addressed?
Does this problem matter to other people?
Do I honestly believe we have the answer to that problem? (elaborate)
Are there changes I believe my organization can make?
What are the greatest strengths of my organization?
What is my dream for this organization?
How would things be different if my dream came true?
Does my dream connect on a personal level with others?
His focus, of course, is on startup entrepreneurs. But by asking yourself these questions, you are thinking deeply about the importance of what you do. By answering these questions, you’ll not only end up with an aspirational, inspirational vision, you will clarify your mission, and be able to tell funders, donors, and others who you want to engage with your organization, why you matter and what their support will mean.