This month one member of the SPS LinkedIn group asked “What is a good definition for ‘vision’?” The question was met with a variety of thought-provoking responses, including a definition from Burt Nanus “which defines a vision as a realistic, credible, attractive future for [an] organisation.”
One member argued that vision is “a smart ability to look behind the horizon”.
Another called it: “The ability to stay into a balloon above your business, to see beyond the operational issues.”
“I believe the word ‘focus’ must be included as a component of vision,” wrote one respondent. “Hence, vision is having the ability to focus intent where achievement is desired.”
A simpler definition was offered by one SPS member. “Vision is just the ‘future state’ – no more, no less. That’s it,” he wrote. “A vision is the definition of the aspirational future state of the company/entity. It is what the company/entity aspires to be.”

Why not join in the debate, with over 6,000 members of the SPS LinkedIn group.