The document discusses vision and vision statements. It defines vision as the optimal desired future state and outlines key elements of effective visions, including being future oriented, providing inspiration and guidance. The document provides examples of vision statements from various organizations and discusses how creating a vision board can help individuals envision their own personal future visions by reflecting on their passions and values. Leaders are said to translate visions into reality.

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The Gantt Center for Student Life  Leadership Learning
707 university union  864-656-2535
Visioning

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Outline
 What is a vision?
 Vision Statements
 How do you vision?
 Why is it important?

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What is a Vision?
 Define It
 "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and
we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." – Michelangelo

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Leadership & Vision
 What does Vision have to do with Leadership?
 "Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." - Warren
Bennis
 "Management has a lot to do with answers. Leadership is a function
of questions. And the first question for a leader always is: 'Who do
we intend to be?' Not 'What are we going to do?' but 'Who do we
intend to be?' - Max DePree
 "You don't lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You
lead by going to that place and making a case." - Ken Kesey

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Elements of a Vision
Visions:
 Future Oriented: Articulates the optimal desired future state
(often a not so near future)
 BIG Picture: Leaders may change, but a clearly established
Vision encourages people to focus on what's important
 Not overly general: Provides guidance and inspiration as to what
an entity (individual, organization, group, community, etc.) is
focused on achieving
 Focused on change: Functions as the "north star" – provides
guidance for every day work and helps connect daily work that
ultimately contributes to sustainable change
 Inspirational and Memorable: Makes it easy for all involved to
repeat it at any given time and provide momentum for their daily
work

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Martin Luther King Jr.
“I have a dream…”

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Statements
 Clemson University Division
 “Clemson will be one of the nation's top-20 public universities.”
 Human Rights Campaign
 “Equality for everyone”
 Apple
 “Apple is committed to bringing the best personal computing experience
to students, educators, creative professionals and consumers around
the world through its innovative hardware, software and Internet
offerings”
 Google
 “To develop a perfect search engine.”

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Vision Statements
 Alzheimer’s Association
 “a world without Alzheimer’s”
 Teach for America
 “One day, all children in this nation will have the opportunity to attain
an excellent education.”
 Peace Corps
 “a more peaceful world shaped by greater cross-cultural understanding
and lifelong engagement at home and abroad.”
 Habitat for Humanity
 “A world where everyone has a decent place to live.”
 Nike
 “to bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.”

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Vision Statements
 Whirlpool
 “Every Home… Everywhere… with Pride, Passion and Performance”
 McDonalds
 “to be the world's best quick service restaurant experience. Being the
best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and
value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile.
 AnMed Health (Anderson Hospital)
 “to be recognized and celebrated as the gold standard for healthcare
quality and community health improvement.”
 Starbucks
 “to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one
neighborhood at a time.”

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Vision Boards
 “Envisioning the future begins with passion, feeling, concern,
or an inspiration that something is worth doing.” Kouzes & Posner
 Activity
 What are you passionate about? What do you want to create?
 Don’t try to think like someone else
 The more your vision reflects your
passions and values, the more effective
it will be
 Looks like, sounds like, feels like…
 What general statements can you pull out?
 Solicit Feedback
 Revise
 And then SHARE it….