How to create a Vision, Mission, Values & Strategy Workshop

Do you have a  shared vision with your team for your business or project?  Do you have a vision for your life?

In this blogpost I want to share with you what you need to know so that you can create a vision, mission, values and strategy for your projects and business. 

I had the pleasure to facilitate the development of a shared vision for leadership teams, project stakeholders, management boards of fortune 500 organizations as well as small businesses.

Your Workshop to develop the Vision, Mission Values and Strategic Plan should involve executives and decision-makers and key contributors like key account managers, product managers who understand the competitive advantage. Furthermore you need stakeholder who  understand the market, the political environment, HR who can  help designing corporate culture and define core competencies.

Let´s start with understanding the key concepts of Vision, Mission, Values, Strategy and learn , how you can develop your vision, mission values  and strategy with your team. What is the difference between Vision, Mission, Values and Strategy? 

The Vision

1. What is  a Vision?

A vision is an idea or a picture that exists in your imagination, representing a desired future state or outcome.

A vision is like a North Star, guiding you towards your desired destination. It's your ultimate picture of success.

A vision for a project or organization is a big dream that shows them what they want to achieve and where they want to go.

2.Why do we need to create a Vision?

The vision helps to align everybody behind an idea and allows individual decision-making while driving results forces son the bigger vision for each individual.

Where there is no vision people perish.

The vision  serves as a guiding light, motivating and aligning stakeholders towards a common goal, and providing a framework for strategic planning and decision-making. A well-crafted vision captures the essence of what the project or organization aspires to become and serves as a source of inspiration and motivation for all involved.

Imagine being the captain of a ship, sailing towards a magnificent treasure. But how do you navigate through stormy seas and unknown waters? It all starts with a clear compass, a map, and a brilliant strategy. In the world of organizations, creating a vision, mission, values, and strategy is like crafting that compass and map. Get ready to set sail on a voyage of discovery, where you'll uncover the secrets to charting your own course to success! 

3.Examples of inspiring visions

Project: A Clean and Sustainable Future

Vision: To create a world where renewable energy powers our homes, electric vehicles fill the streets, and sustainable practices protect our planet for future generations.

Project: Empowering Entrepreneurs for Social Change

Vision: To equip aspiring entrepreneurs with essential management and sales skills, empowering them to build successful businesses that not only drive personal success but also contribute to positive social impact, creating opportunities for growth and prosperity in their communities.

Project: Empowering Children for the future

Vision: To ensure every child, regardless of their background or circumstances, has access to quality education that unlocks their full potential and creates a brighter future.

Project: Healthy Communities, Thriving Lives

Vision: To build communities that prioritize holistic well-being, providing access to healthcare, nutritious food, safe environments, and opportunities for personal growth, resulting in healthier and thriving lives for all.

4. How to create a Vision with your team?

Do you have a  shared vision with your team for your business or project? 

Where there are no Vision people perish.

I've had the pleasure of helping leadership teams, project stakeholders, and management boards from big companies to small businesses create a shared vision. Sometimes, we even had the exciting task of selling the business owner's or CEO's vision to the team.

The Vision itself is an inside-out job so that we recommend our proven 3 step visioning process, that allows you to get better answers to the question:

• What is your vision? Where do you see yourself  , your business , your company  in 5-10 years?

Here's how we do it:

Step One: Everyone creates their own vision for the next 5 or 10 years. It's like imagining where you want to be in the future.

Step Two: We gather around and share our visions with each other, just like telling stories. It's cool to see everyone's unique ideas.

Step Three: Together, we combine all the best parts and create a shared vision. It's like putting together a puzzle where everyone's piece fits perfectly.

To make this process fun and engaging, we use cool methods like guided exercises, wall charts with prompts,LEGO Serious Play® and vision boards (both on paper and digital).

With a shared vision, your team becomes a dream team, working together towards a common goal. It's like having a special superpower that makes your business or project successful.

The Mission

1.What is a Mission?

The Mission explains what you do and who you do it for.

Your mission is like a superhero's mission, defining your purpose and what you aim to achieve. It's your unique superpower that sets you apart.

Your Mission focuses on the present , your current purpose and activities.the impact you  want to make in the world.

• What are you doing?
• How are you helping?
• What impact do you want to create ?

2. How to create a mission statement?

 Being ona mission to act as is something that requires to get clear on what type fo service  or imapct you want to make and  what boundaries do you set.

How such a process can look like. 

1. Gather Stakeholders: Bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including key team members, leaders, and representatives from different departments or areas of the organization. ( we used 36 )

2. Provide Context: Share relevant information about the organization's values, goals, target audience, and industry landscape. This helps participants understand the broader context in which the mission statement will be created.(we did a lot of preparation workshops)

3. Brainstorm Ideas: Encourage open discussion and brainstorming to generate a wide range of ideas and perspectives. Use techniques like mind mapping, post-it notes, or group discussions to explore different aspects of the organization's purpose. ( we use group work)

   Some questions we may ask are:

   • What type of expert are you?  What does our company do?
   • How are you going to achieve the big vision? What services and products do you develop and provide?
   • Who do you serve?
   • What type of business are you in and what not?
   • What work, service, activity do we do today?
   • What impact do we want to achieve?
   •  

4. Analyze and Refine: Review the generated ideas and identify common themes or patterns. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each idea, and narrow down the options based on their alignment with the organization's values and goals.( This is where you need great facilitators so that you sa the owner can watch and gain insights)

5. Craft the Statement: Collaboratively craft the mission statement by combining key elements, refining the wording, and ensuring it captures the essence of the organization's purpose. Strive for clarity, simplicity, and inspiring language. ( That first draft is ready in the workshop but it takes time to make it ready for press) 

   For developing the Mission statement, we use a systematic moderation process to make sure, that your missions message becomes so clear so that your team , your clients and  your stakeholders understand it easily.

6. Seek Consensus: Engage the group in a consensus-building process to ensure everyone is aligned with the final mission statement. Encourage feedback and make necessary revisions until there is a shared understanding and agreement. Here we use different forms of facilitation methods and moderation techniques.

3. Characteristics of a well-crafted mission statement

1. Be short and easy to understand.
2. Clearly explain what the organization wants to do.
3. Inspire and motivate people.
4. Show what makes the organization special and different.
5. Be memorable and easy to remember.
6. Consider what different people need.
7. Guide the organization's actions.

4. Real mission statement examples

1. We help create a better future by inventing new ways to use clean energy, like solar power and wind power, to light up our homes, schools, and cities. We care about protecting the Earth for many generations to come.

2. We help kids like you get a great education that helps you learn, grow, and achieve your dreams. We believe that every child deserves the chance to succeed and make a difference in the world.

3. We help make communities happier and healthier by making sure everyone can go to the doctor when they need to and have access to nutritious food. We also work to make neighborhoods safe and provide opportunities for you to grow and become the best version of yourself.

4. Here are some mission statements examples from companies  you  know:

Siemens: "To innovate and engineer sustainable solutions that power the world, connect societies, and improve the quality of life for people everywhere."

Philips: "To improve lives through meaningful innovation, creating innovative healthcare technologies and solutions that enhance well-being, empower individuals, and transform healthcare systems globally."

The Values

1. What are Values?

Values are just as a compass points to true north,

Values are your guiding principles, keeping you on the right path even in stormy times

Values are deeply held beliefs and principles 

We help our clients to measure and design Personal Values,  Team values and Organizational values.

 
2. Why do we need to know our core values?

They provide a framework for decision-making and help us prioritize what matters most to us.

Our Values  influence our attitudes, behaviors, and decisions.

Our values influence our relationships and help us connect with others who share similar beliefs and principles with ease.

Uncovering our values helps us set goals that are meaningful and aligned with what we truly desire. It ensures that our efforts and pursuits are in harmony with our values, leading to greater motivation and satisfaction. This is why we ask our coaching clients to do the  Discover your Values exercise.

If we skip uncovering our values we might experience the following:

1. We may feel confused and unsure about what really matters to us.
2. Our decisions might not match who we truly are, causing inner conflicts.
3. It can be difficult to prioritize and focus on what is important to us.

3. Here are  examples of corporate values from companies you know:

1. Apple:

   • Empathy for customers and colleagues.
   • Diversity is our future.
   • We believe in deep collaboration and cross-pollination of ideas.
   • We expect innovation in everything we do.
   • We work hard to simplify things.

2. Microsoft:

   • Empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
   • Innovation is in our DNA.
   • We are open and respectful.
   • We win with integrity.
   • We believe in what people make possible.

3. Google:

   • Focus on the user and all else will follow.
   • It's best to do one thing really, really well.
   • Fast is better than slow.
   • Democracy on the web works.
   • You don't need to be at your desk to need an answer.
   • Great just isn't good enough.

 4. How to develop shared values?

When it comes to defining values, it's helpful to make them measurable. One way you can do this is by using the 9 Levels Value system. It's like a fun tool that helps you understand your own values and how they affect your results. By using this system, you can uncover any conflicts between your values and figure out what values you really need to achieve your vision. It's a cool way to see what's important to you and make sure you're on the right track!

Another option is to use a Value card deck and have a group discussion to agree on the values. This is a cool activity where each person selects cards that represent important values to them. Then, everyone shares their choices and together, as a group, you discuss and decide on the values that are most important for your team or project. It's a fun way to collaborate and make sure everyone's voices are heard in determining the values that will guide your work.

When selecting words for your values, it's important to agree on how you want to demonstrate these values in your everyday life, work, and communication. It's not just about choosing the right words, but also about deciding how you will put those values into action. By discussing and agreeing on the specific behaviors and actions that align with your values, you can ensure that they are truly lived and practiced by everyone on your team.

 If you want to start  the process I strongly recommend you start with the values:Click here

Always start with your personal values and make sure you align personal and team values. 

The  Strategy

1. Definition 

A strategy is a  comprehensive and high-level approach that sets the direction and priorities of the organization

Strategies are plans or approaches designed to achieve specific goals or objectives. They outline a set of actions or tactics that an individual, organization, or team can take to move closer to their desired outcomes. Strategies provide a roadmap or a guide to make decisions, allocate resources, and take appropriate steps to achieve success in a given situation. They help to prioritize and align efforts, overcome challenges, and maximize opportunities. Strategies can be developed for various areas, such as business, marketing, project management, or personal development, and they play a crucial role in driving progress and achieving desired outcomes.

2. Why do we need to choose strategies? 

Being strategic is important because it helps us to:

1. Define Clear Direction: High-level strategies show us our goals and guide our decisions.

2. Promote Collaboration: Strategies help teams work together and align their efforts.

3. Optimize Resource Use: Strategies ensure we use resources wisely.

4. Enhance Risk Preparedness: Strategies help us handle risks and problems effectively.

5. Track and Measure Success: Strategies let us track progress and make improvements.

3. Examples of strategic initiatives

Here examples of  5 strategic initiatives to empower CEOs in leveraging the power of project management

1. Implement project management training and education programs to enhance CEOs' understanding of project management principles and practices.
2. Establish a dedicated Project Management Office (PMO) to provide guidance and support for CEOs and project teams, ensuring project management excellence.
3. Adopt a project portfolio management approach to prioritize and align projects with strategic objectives, optimizing resource allocation and project investments.
4. Develop performance metrics and monitoring systems to track project progress, identify risks, and make data-driven decisions for successful project outcomes.
5. Foster a culture of collaboration and knowledge sharing, encouraging cross-functional collaboration and regular project updates to keep CEOs informed and drive collective project success.

4. How to develop the strategy in a workshop

Our 7-step strategy process is a structured approach to developing and implementing effective strategies. Here's a summary of each step:

1. Define your purpose: Clearly articulate your organization's purpose, mission, and vision. Understand why you exist and what you want to achieve.

2. Conduct a situational analysis: Assess your internal and external environment. Identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Understand the market, competitors, and trends.

3. Set strategic objectives: Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives that align with your purpose. These objectives serve as the targets you want to achieve.

4. Develop strategic options: Generate different strategic options and alternatives to achieve your objectives. Evaluate each option's feasibility, potential risks, and alignment with your purpose.

5. Select the best strategy: Analyze and compare the strategic options based on their potential impact, resource requirements, and alignment with your objectives. Choose the strategy that best fits your organization's needs and capabilities.

6. Implement the strategy: Develop a detailed action plan to execute the chosen strategy. Assign responsibilities, set timelines, and allocate resources. Monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.

7. Evaluate and adapt: Continuously assess the effectiveness of your strategy. Measure outcomes, collect feedback, and identify areas for improvement. Adapt your strategy based on changing circumstances and new opportunities.

By following these steps, organizations can develop well-informed and actionable strategies to achieve their goals and stay competitive in their respective industries.

The 5 Mistakes when it comes to defining Vision -Mission and Strategy

• Skipping the Values exercise
• Copying the Vision statement from other Websites and not creating it from the inside out.
• Not taking the time in your team to agreeing on shared values
• Not setting strategic key priorities, but instead just listing too many todos.
• Not inviting your team and the key contributor to the planning table.
• Not designing a manageable action plan, to get momentum by taking first baby steps towards implementing  this great vision 

We provide training for  consultants and teams , resources  like slidedecks, templates, charts  and agendas for 2 - 3 days depending on your size and business situation:

Tools and Processes 

Resources:

Read more on this topic: How to create a shared vision

Watch free Masterclass : How to create shared Values Click here

Download Your Values Exercise:What are my Values Workbook