How to write a vision statement
A vision statement paints the future you are trying to bring about — the change in the world if you succeed. Where a mission is grounded in the present, a vision pulls the organization toward something bigger.
- Aim at an outcome — describe the world you create, not the product you sell.
- Be ambitious but believable — a stretch the team can rally behind.
- Keep it to one sentence — a shared picture everyone can hold.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a vision statement?
- A vision statement describes the future you are working to create — the world if your organization fully succeeds. It is aspirational and long-term, unlike a mission statement, which describes what you do today.
- What makes a good vision statement?
- A good vision is ambitious yet believable, short enough to remember, and focused on an outcome rather than a product. It should stretch the team without sounding like a fantasy.
- Vision statement vs mission statement?
- A vision is about the future you want to create; a mission is about what you do right now to get there. Most organizations have both, and they should reinforce each other.
- How long should a vision statement be?
- One sentence is ideal. The whole point is a shared picture everyone can hold in their head, so brevity matters.