Why you need a strategic vision

Let’s step back for a moment from the practical and expedient work we do every day and wear a philosophical hat for a moment. Let’s look to examine the deeper motives that drive us in being a successful entrepreneur. Let’s look a why we need a strategic vision.

As we all know, and surely realize, many people often have lofty ideas and set lofty goals. We do so because there is a greater purpose in much we strive to do, even though it is not always or immediately apparent.

Before we dig deep into our “selves” to see what greater motives lie beneath, it might be a good idea to understand why we need to undertake this exercise at all. Why is it important to recognize our mission, vision and values? How can this help our consulting practices?

Even if we were, for a moment, to overlook the larger philosophical purpose, such an exercise has enormous practical benefits. A vision and mission statement, for example, projects a simple, elegant and still lofty goal for why we do what we do and how we do it. It also has the benefit of withstanding the test of time.

Deliotte places their vision on culture, “our vision and strategy, developed in collaboration with leadership and member firm partners from around the world, focuses on working together ‘As One’ across geographic, functional, and business borders to deliver excellence in all of the services provided by the member firms. We aspire to be the Standard of Excellence, the first choice of the most sought-after clients and talent.”

McKinsey & Company, for example, places its mission squarely focused on impact. Specifically, it strives “to help our clients make distinctive, lasting, and substantial improvements in performance, and to build a great firm that attracts, develops, excites, and retains exceptional people.”

These are statements can inspire employees and clients alike. So there is great value in “discovering” our true goal and articulating it in simple terms, much like a great tag line in a commercial. Only, this one is long-lasting and likely to be synonymous with the entrepreneur and company we aspire to build. If we live by it and prosper as a result, then the development of a vision and mission statement has been worth the effort.

Here are some key steps toward preparing a vision statement:

Great Leaders Show the Way. Good leadership is all about showing the way. Entrepreneurs need to provide inspiring leadership. They need to recognize this and work their way to a vision.

Introspect. Ask yourself a number of questions to understand what you are doing and why. Why are you an entrepreneur or Why did I start my  business? What do I really do for my customers? What is the ultimate goal of my business?

Don’t Be Modest. Sometimes we can be shy about setting or expressing a goal that might look too lofty. A vision statement is not an immediate goal. Think of it as a dream. Even if it is never attained, it is worth cherishing.

Brainstorm. You can’t really sit in your ivory tower and come up with a vision for your company. It takes much more than that. It requires discussions and debates, and exchange of ideas. Organize conversations in which fellow associates, employees and even clients contribute their ideas. These thoughts can be “distilled” to create a grand vision for your consulting business.