Does Your Organisation’s Vision Give You Tingles? (Or Is It More Like Lukewarm Tea?)

Let's talk about something that keeps popping up in my coaching sessions. Picture this: A leader sits across from me (virtually, because it’s 2025), and confesses, "I know what we do, but ask me where we're heading and I’m stumped?”  This disconnect is more common than you might think, and it's costing you and your organisation more than you realise.

Mission vs Vision: The Fun-Size Explanation

Think of it this way:

• Your mission is the boat you're sailing in (the what, here and now)

• Your vision is that exciting aspirational island you're heading towards (and yes, there might be coconuts! 🌴)

The power of vision is it gets you to think big picture beyond the day-to-day and many people lack this. I like to focus on a 10-year vision with clients because while it seems a long way off, it's also long enough to help you dream big and suspend disbelief or get stuck in the "but how?" questions. Often we look at their life vision (because this is something you are in direct control of) and then take the learnings from this to crafting an organisational vision.

When Vision Is About as Exciting as Cold Porridge

Here's where many organisations get stuck. They have a vision statement that looks great on paper but generates about as much excitement as a mandatory health and safety meeting. Ouch!

Signs your vision needs a pep talk:

• Your team's explanation of where you're heading sounds like a game of confused whispers

• Your vision statement could belong to literally any organisation (just swap out a few words!)

• It’s just words on your website, but it doesn’t get referenced in board discussions or when setting strategy.

• And the big one… your vision feels like a 5/10 on the excitement scale…

The Funding Connection (Or Why Tingles = Cha-Ching! 💰)

Here's the tea: Organisations with clear, bold, juicy visions tend to attract more funding. Why? Because enthusiasm is as contagious as a cat video on social media! When you're genuinely excited about your vision:

• Funders catch the vision bug

• Your passion becomes contagious

• Decision-making becomes clearer and easier

• Team motivation skyrockets

• Your strategic plan is easy to set

As a leader, your vision also acts as your North Star. It's what keeps you going during those challenging days (hello, funding applications and annual audits! 👋). But here's the thing - if you're not crystal clear  (and I mean viscerally - as in you can see and feel ALL the details) and excited about where your organisation is heading, how can you expect your team, funders, or community to be?

To me, your vision should give you the full-body tingles and goosebumps when you share it - if not, it’s a sign there’s some work to do. 

Make It Real: Fun Exercises That Actually Work

Try these exercises with your board or team (promise it's more fun than budget reviews!):

#1: The Award Call Fantasy

"Ring ring! ☎️ Hello? Why yes, we'd love to accept that amazing award for…[fill in the blanks]" Get your board dreaming big and vividly describe this. What recognition are you receiving? What’s had to happen to get here? And, most importantly, how the heck does it feel to have achieved this?

#2: The Front Page News Game

Imagine it’s 10 years from now and your organisation is making positive headlines on the front page of your local or national newspaper. What are they featuring you for, and how does it make you feel?

Remember: If your vision doesn't give you tingles, it won't give anyone else the feels either. Time to turn that lukewarm tea into a sparkling champagne moment! ✨ 

Ready to Turn Your Vision from Lukewarm to Tingly? 🌟

For a limited time in February only I'm gifting you free access to my "Vision for Impact" workshop recording - a resource usually exclusive to my coaching clients! 

I'm off on maternity leave this year (yup, baby number 2 is on the way!) and I still want to make sure I can serve you and help you and your for-purpose organisation thrive. Part of this is helping you fine-tune your vision and turn it into action. Whether it's your personal or organisational vision, it should give you tingles! Let's make it happen.

This workshop will help you:

• Create a life or organisation vision that truly energises you, and/or your team

• Make your vision more visceral and compelling

• Turn abstract ideas into actionable steps

• Connect personal and organisational purpose

Access the workshop here.

Here’s to making your vision statement less snooze-worthy, together!