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3 Building a Personal Vision Statement

Genevieve Pinto Zipp

School of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Graduate Programs in Health Sciences, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA

3.1 Personal Vision Statement and Portfolio Overview

As healthcare professionals we are faced with the ongoing responsibility of documenting evidence of our competency, productivity, and the goals to which we aspire. Seldin (2009) described the academic portfolio as a conceptual framework that can be used by faculty to record, share, and reflect upon accomplishments. Zubizarreta (2009) described the learning portfolio as a framework that students can use to foster learning and assess their outcomes via self‐refection. But how do we begin this journey? Typically, the first part of any portfolio includes material that reflects upon a personal philosophy, which encompasses the “vision statement,” mechanisms to achieve goals, and insightful reflection upon the current outcomes of the goals. In a portfolio, insight into the journey taken can be offered, issues can be addressed that may have impeded the journey, and a discussion of paths to be explored to achieve the set goals can be included. The key feature that drives the portfolio is the development of a strong, vibrant vision statement that describes the desired outcome at a specific point in the future. It is through the development of a personal vision statement that one can reflect on his (or her) strengths and weakness, allowing for an ongoing self‐assessment that leads to the development of personal insight. A vision statement can open the mind to possibilities and pitfalls associated with future goals. As William Arthur Ward (1970) said, “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.” I would argue that while it is important to imagine the possibilities, it is only through insightful reflection that we can achieve what we have envisioned. Thus, engaging in the creation of a personal vision statement provides an opportunity for insightful reflection. Creating a personal vision statement is no easy task, and it might take several attempts to artfully and accurately reflect your proposed endeavors.

3.2 Getting Started

So how does one get started in developing their own personal vision statement? First, base your vision statement on the “best” outcome you can envision. Have your vision statement be so rich that it inspires you, energizes you, motivates you, and sparks your creative side. After reviewing your vision statement the writer should be ignited to achieve the noted goals. In addition the reader of the vision statement should see clear benchmarks that the writer expects to be measured upon in order to assess their attainment of their vision. These benchmarks are written as measurable and observable long term goals and short term objectives, which are based on the articulated vision.

3.3 Vision Statement in Action

To help us see the importance of creating a vision statement, let's reflect upon this short story:

On the first day of class, a high school teacher asked his computer‐science class to create a software package that would revolutionize the software industry and earn someone the Nobel Prize. The students were told that they would have to present their ideas to the entire class at the end of the semester. After all the presentations were completed, the teacher then asked the class if they felt that “any of the ideas presented could earn someone a Nobel Prize.” The students felt that most (if not all) of the software ideas were not good enough to win a Nobel Prize. At the end of the class, as the students were packing their backpacks to head out to their next class, the teacher left the students with this statement: “You don't get a Nobel‐Prize idea from a run‐of‐the‐mill vision.”

The premise of this short story is to illustrate that the quality of your vision shapes your outcome. An inspiring, engaging, and captivating vision statement broadens expectations and aspirations; and pushes someone out of their so‐called “comfort zone.” Skeptics of writing powerful vision statements might suggest that failing to achieve the aspired outcome can be detrimental to continued growth and development in an organization, profession, or work community. While this can be a true concern for many based on their organization's beliefs and structure, the development of two vision statements might be the answer. The first vision statement can serve as the “idealized” statement and the second as the “realistic” statement. The realistic vision statement is the one that can be shared within your work community and used to assess work performance. However, the idealistic vision statement is the vision that an individual uses as foundational support for their realistic vision statement. Professionals and organizations must look at vision statements as a learning strategy that inspires them to continue to strive to reach new heights in their personal and professional journey.

Several years ago, I came across a quote by Les Brown (2001): “Shoot for the moon! Even if you miss, you'll still be among the stars.” Today, I look at my personal vision statement and the moon and the stars are the objectives along the way that led me closer and closer to the moon.

3.4 Rules to Guide Vision Statement Development

Armed with a clear understanding of what a vision statement is, 10 simple rules will help you begin to develop your own personal vision statement:

1 Vision statements are presented in the present tense. State for the reader what you actually hear, see, feel, and think after your ideal outcome was achieved.
2 Vision statements capture emotion and, therefore, describe how you will feel when the outcome is realized. One might think of these emotions as your “inner vision.” Inner vision represents how you want to be viewed by colleagues. One might suggest the inner vision is what you want those in your inner circle to see. Specifically, this points to who you are and what you stand for.
3 Provide a variety of sensory details; one might consider these the “outer vision” as they are colors, shapes, sounds, and smells. Sensory details within your statement provide a mental image of the ideal outcome for the reader. In general, the outer vision represents how you would like noncolleagues to view your work and yourself.
4 Be thoughtful in the development of your vision statement. Identify a time and place where you can focus your attention to engage in insightful reflection and thought in order to effectively address the development of your personal vision statement.
5 Use your personal portfolio (which is meant to house a thorough inventory of your goals, strengths, weaknesses, and accomplishments, along with insightful reflection on each of these areas) as a mechanism to assess your personal development and growth and ignite your vision.
6 Based on this thorough and thoughtful review and reflection of your portfolio documents, create a positive mental image regarding activities you would like to engage in at some point in the future.
7 Draft a concise statement, usually no more than three sentences, of your personal vision that represents what you want to achieve in your life.
8 Share your vision statement with mentors who have inspired you. Engage them in dialogue regarding your vision specific to: its written clarity, depth, appropriateness given the available demands and resources, and, most importantly, its ability to motivate you to continue to seek the best in yourself.
9 Reflect on the information provided from your mentors and revise your vision statement if you judge their feedback as warranted.
10 Think of your vision statement as a tool to jolt your inspiration and support you on your personal journey. Review it quarterly to determine if it continues to be accurate in describing the ideal outcome you want to achieve. Often times, our vision statements require no change; but sometimes, circumstances (whether it be resource availability, life constraints, or just an “Aha!” moment) jolt us such that we need to reflect on our vision statement and modify it, or even start a new one.

3.5 Conclusions

Remember that the purpose of the vision statement is to push you to envision the possible. Use your goals and objectives to measure if you have succeeded or failed in reaching your vision. Once you have crafted your personal vision statement, assess its fit with the organization's vision statement. Organizations use their vision statement as one of the guideposts or strategies to help focus the organization's resources, articulate a shared image, and drive employee motivation as the organization charts its path for success in the future. An organization's vision emerges from a true appreciation of its historical background, insightful reflection on past and current opportunities available, and a comprehensive strategic plan that enables the organization to capitalize on the opportunities. A fit between your personal vision statement and that of the organization ensures that both visions flourish rather than perish. The establishment of a strong motivating vision statement enables both the organization and the individuals within it to envision what can be possible rather than what is impossible.

References

1 Brown, L. (2001). Live Your Dreams. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishing.
2 Seldin, P. (2009). The Teaching Portfolio. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Co.
3 Ward, W. (1970). Fountains of Faith. New York: Droke House.
4 Zubizarreta, J. (2009). The Learning Portfolio. San Francisco, CA: Jossey‐Bass.