Reflections on VITALITY™: Vision of Itself and Its Future

The vital organization is characterized by a clearly articulated and commonly held vision of itself, its mission or purpose, and the possible futures it may inherit or create.

This vision is derived from the organization's founding mission, amended by the values, experiences and expectations of former and contemporary members. In its most current form, it is represented in the organization's mission statement, goals and objectives.

To the greatest extent possible, the vital organization's mission has been developed by a broad spectrum of its members. And all members are committed to its accomplishment.

In turn, this mission and the vision it represents direct the organization's drive toward innovation. They also serve as the basis for its relationships with investors, employees, members, customers or clients, and the general public.

Vision serves to direct the entire organization in a concerted effort towards a common future. When based on the organization's mission, clearly articulated by its leaders and embraced by its employees, vision can inspire performance and promote innovation. Vision forms the foundation and provides the strength that allows organizations to excel.

The leader plays a crucial role in the formation, measurement and achievement of the vision. Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Roman statesman and philosopher, Seneca wrote, "When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind." An organization without a vision is a liability.

"I got a vision," Big Boy tells his cronies in Dick Tracy (1990): "A big boss has got to have a big vision." Big Boy probably would agree with Bennis and Nanus (1985) that "With a vision, the leader provides the all-important bridge from the present to the future of the organization.”

The importance of the leader's ability to connect for the organization's members its present (which includes the impact of its past) and its future is highlighted by Bridges' (1980) description of the impact of major organizational change on individuals: "It is as if we launched out from a riverside dock to cross to a landing on the opposite shore -- only to discover in midstream that the landing was no longer there. (And when we looked back at the other shore, we saw that the dock we left from had just broken loose and was heading downstream.)

The radiant eye atop the pyramid on a one-dollar bill is a fitting symbol of the leaders' vision. Supported by others at lower levels in the pyramid, leaders hold the best position for scanning the outside world, and for broadcasting the organization's vision.

Vision directs how the mission will unfold, now and in the future. It frames the organization’s goals and objectives, and generates future meaning. Every organization has a mission, whether glorious or mundane, un-articulated or widely known. But the mission can be accomplished in many different ways, but must be pursued, for a vision without action is a daydream and action without a vision is a nightmare.