Just like people, companies need a clear idea of what goals they want to hit and how to achieve them. The employees of the organization also need to feel like they’re part of a team to collaborate successfully and work toward the company’s shared goal. These centralized pillars are what the company spells out in its vision and mission statements. This is why it’s so important for you to understand the difference between the two items.
A vision statement’s main focus is on what the company wants to become in the future. The mission statement’s main focus is today and what the company is doing to achieve its goals. However, it’s easy for people to blur the lines between the two items. When it comes to helping your company grow and achieve your goals both right now and, in the future, you have to be able to tell the difference between these two things. In turn, this can help you better define and understand your company’s goals.
Defining a Mission Statement
A mission statement is usually a very short summary of your company’s core focus, purpose, or aim. The mission statement usually has a brief description of what your company’s key objectives are and what it does. It’s usually a declaration of what your company does in its day-to-day activities. It also outlines what each employee contributes to the company’s overall goals.
This mission statement is responsible for directly driving your company. It outlines the business’s core and what you do, and this helps to make the company’s objectives clear. It also touches on what you need to do to help meet the company objectives. A strong mission statement can work to motivate your team to move forward to meet a common goal, and it should include questions like:
- What do we do each day?
- Who do we work to serve?
- How do we best serve these people?
A mission statement will help you establish a framework for your employees to model their behavior after. They usually start with something along the lines of, “We are a,” or “We offer.” Since a mission statement reflects the company’s everyday activities, you can use them as a base to measure performance standards.
Defining a Vision Statement
A vision statement is usually a short, succinct description of your company’s aspirations and the impact you want to have. It acts like a guide for the employees to follow, and it can lay the groundwork for decision-making on the managerial level. It also helps determine which direction you want to take your company in. A vision statement should be very definitive and clear, and it should state what your company wants to accomplish. It should also outline what the world will look like once you manage to accomplish your goals.
So, the vision statement works to give your company a direction to go in. It describes the company’s future, and it has a hard emphasis on your company’s purpose. Your vision statement could include the following questions:
- What are the dreams of hopes for the company?
- What and who are we trying to inspire to change?
- What problem is the company solving for the greater good?
The vision statement focuses on the future. It’s very commonly used for public relations, and they don’t tend to change that often once you set it because they encompass your company’s overall strategic goals. Every organizational step the company takes should be working toward fulfilling the vision statement. Vision statements usually feature present tense writing while talking about the organization’s future because they have a directive and transcendent nature.
Differences Between a Mission Statement and a Vision Statement
The timeline is the main difference between both documents. They can overlap, but your company’s mission statement tends to focus on the right now while your vision statement focuses on the future. The mission statement serves as the how and the what, and your vision statement is the why.
You can use mission statements to create cohesive management teams because they can change as the company’s needs shift. Your employees’ behaviors, actions, and duties all fall under your mission statement, so it should be adaptable to organizational changes. On the other hand, the vision statement is a goal that can help you direct your employees’ behavior and expectations in their daily activities. It serves to give employees a solid idea of what your company wants to accomplish in the future.
Contact Six Degrees Digital Media
If you’re still not sure on the difference between a mission and vision statement, book a strategy session with us. We’re happy to sit down with you, outline the two, and help you understand all of the key differences.
