Vision

Vision is an image of a future state that describes what we intend to become. Having an inspired and inspiring vision of the future is an essential part of motivating a team. Here is why.

Significance

All of us seek meaning, purpose in our life, we want to have lived for something, we want our lives to have meaning. In short, we seek significance. Most of us achieve this significance by joining with others in pursuit of great goals. In a large part, a shared vision contributes to our experience of significance, being a part of something greater than ourselves. Think about how motivating it can be to be a part of something great, like putting a man on the moon, or discovering a cure for cancer, or coming up with the next killer app for agentic AI.

Definition

An inspiring vision is a compelling, big-picture image of a desired future that motivates individuals or groups to work towards a common, meaningful goal, providing direction, purpose, and excitement beyond the present reality, often characterized as bold, clear, and inclusive. It is a long-term aspiration that goes beyond daily tasks, acting as a "north star" that aligns efforts and creates a shared sense of purpose, turning abstract ideas into tangible realities.

Characteristics

The key characteristics of an inspiring vision are: Future-focused, succinct, purposeful, actionable, and inclusive. These are the most important elements of forging an inspired and inspiring vision. We will look at each of them separately.

1. Forward-looking, Future-focused

   A forward-looking, inspiring vision refers to a future state that is markedly different from the present and stretches beyond comfort zones and current capabilities. It implies the need for thinking outside the box and overcoming existing limitations. Achieving the desired future state rquires growth and development, not to mention hard work.

2. Clear & Concise

   An inspiring vision is clear and succinct, easy to understand and relate to. It must also be memorable if not monumental. It must be easily communicated and shared with other, possibly new, members of the team.

3. Purposeful

   A purpose-driven future vision resonates deeply with individual values and beliefs. It feeds the passions of team members, relentlessly driving people to achieve the imagined future state. A purposeful vision also implies utility — usefulness to benefit society in important ways.

4. Actionable

   An action-oriented vision cements the commitment of the team members and inspires their passion for its goals. An actionable vision also provides a framework to formulate the mission and strategies of the organization. While not task-oriented, an actionable vision should make clear what needs to be accomplished to achieve it.

How To

In this section, I will attempt to reveal the steps needed to build an inspired and inspiring vision of a future state. The specific steps are: Reflection, Ideation, Chunking, and Living. I will discuss each step in further detail.

1. Reflection

   Find an isolated place, leaving your phone, tablet and laptop behind. Quiet your mind, as you did in Chapter 1. Think about what you love, what you enjoy doing. Amplify your passion to the nth degree and imagine the best possible future state. At this stage, put no constraints on your thoughts, I want you to realize your "blue sky" vision, where anything is possible. We will get practical later.

2. Ideation

   Imagine living in your imagined future state as if it has already been manifested. Vividly describe what you see, focusing more on the why, rather than the what. Outline the impact your vision has on the company, the customers, the competition, and the environment. Consider all stakeholders: customers, employees, owners, and suppliers — what effect will your vision have on each of them?

3. Chunking

   Now that you have an inspiring vision of the future looking ahead 3 to 5 years, imagine what state would you be in a year? How far could you get in six months? Where will you be in 90 days? Breaking the vision down into shorter-term milstones will help you formulate SMART objectives.

4. Living It

   An inspiring vision is far more than just words on a page, Powerpoint slide, or the factory wall. For vision to become reality, it must be lived, experienced, felt. The vision must become a part of the organization's DNA, the core of its being. The power of the vision must resonate with every member of the team.

Writing an Inspiring Vision Statement

Focus on goals: what you are trying to achieve, leave the how for later. Avoid using terms like, "Be the best …", or "Become the supplier of choice …", or "Be the market leader …". Every company wants that, it would not make yours stand out, be different. Be bold yet specific in your aspirations but most of all, dare to be different, to stand out.

Add context: people must be able to connect with your vision, it requires context. What makes your vision important and interesting? Why does it matter? Why should we work hard to achieve it? People must feel the compelling power of your vision or they will be unwilling to take part. Remember, the vision is the first motivating force to create purpose and significance in people's lives.

Inspiring and aspirational: the world we envision must not just be different, it must be better. It must be a great thing, really inspiring.

A final thought on writing an inspiring vision statement: ask your favorite AI tool for help. Provide it with the context of your business, your values, and your aspirations, and ask it to generate a vision statement. You will be surprised at the results. I continue to be amazed by the power of Gemini-3 and the amazing coding power gained with Copilot's Claude integration.

The next chapter will focus on writing a compelling mission statement.