Therefore the focus should be on ensuring that this tool is properly aligned and used so that the benefits overshadow the costs, instead of fearfully leaving it to rust in the dust. Without total honesty and clarity, the process is doomed from the start. Everyone must feel comfortable with the objectives and must be willing to make the necessary commitments to achieve them. Ultimately, results come from investments of time and money, not from feel-good discussion groups. It is preferable for a vision to be pared back and achievable than to be so unrealistic that it has lost all credibility before even being posted on the wall.
Total commitment is also essential.
An organization s progress is the aggregate result of countless decisions made every moment. What mission and vision statements do is provide a ready reference for everyone to use as a benchmark when making decisions. These decisions may be as mundane as how the receptionist answers the phone to whether the board approves opening a new branch office in another state. With clear, realistic objectives guiding them, everyone finds that often the decisions are already made for them. Properly designed and implemented, mission and vision statements enable an organization to maximize its potential by focusing all its elements on the same goals while actually reducing decision making mistakes and stress.