Vision Statement

Term from Change Management industry explained for recruiters

A Vision Statement is a clear description of what an organization wants to achieve in the future. It's like a picture of where a company wants to go, written in simple and inspiring words. Change managers often work with vision statements because they help employees understand why changes are happening and gives everyone a common goal to work towards. Similar terms include "Strategic Vision," "Corporate Vision," or "Future State." Vision statements are different from mission statements - while a mission statement talks about what a company does today, a vision statement focuses on where it wants to be tomorrow.

Examples in Resumes

Led development and communication of new Vision Statement resulting in 95% employee buy-in

Facilitated workshops to create department Vision Statement and strategic goals

Aligned organizational changes with company Vision Statement and core values

Created engaging presentations to communicate new Vision Statement and Strategic Vision across 5 global offices

Typical job title: "Change Management Professionals"

Also try searching for:

Change Manager Organizational Development Specialist Change Management Consultant Strategic Planning Manager Transformation Lead Corporate Strategy Manager Business Change Manager

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you ensure a vision statement drives actual organizational change?

Expected Answer: Should discuss methods of connecting vision to concrete actions, measuring progress, and maintaining engagement. Should mention creating implementation roadmaps and communication strategies.

Q: How have you handled resistance to a new vision statement?

Expected Answer: Should explain stakeholder management, communication strategies, and methods to address concerns. Should provide examples of turning skeptics into supporters.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What elements make a vision statement effective?

Expected Answer: Should discuss clarity, inspiration, achievability, and alignment with company values. Should mention the importance of making it memorable and meaningful to all employees.

Q: How do you communicate a vision statement effectively to different audiences?

Expected Answer: Should explain different communication channels, adapting messages for various groups, and measuring understanding and acceptance.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What's the difference between a vision statement and a mission statement?

Expected Answer: Should explain that vision statements focus on future goals while mission statements describe current purpose and activities.

Q: How do you gather input for creating a vision statement?

Expected Answer: Should mention stakeholder interviews, workshops, surveys, and involving different levels of the organization in the process.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic understanding of change management principles
  • Helping organize vision workshops
  • Supporting communication activities
  • Documentation and presentation creation

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Facilitating vision creation workshops
  • Developing communication plans
  • Stakeholder analysis and management
  • Creating engagement activities

Senior (5+ years)

  • Leading vision development process
  • Managing complex stakeholder relationships
  • Creating transformation strategies
  • Measuring vision implementation success

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Unable to explain the difference between vision and mission statements
  • No experience in stakeholder engagement
  • Lack of communication skills
  • No understanding of change management principles
  • Cannot provide examples of successful vision implementation