What's the Difference Between Mission and Vision?

Two of the most important and yet confusing strategic decisions a company, business or organization has to make are, "What is our mission?" and "What is our vision?" Yet most leaders are confused about what they're really trying to create. They know they ought to have them, but how are they different? To find out how radically different they are, you'll want to watch this video.

[@THE16THPHANTOM]

oh man there is everything on youtube today, even accounting. its pretty great to live in this era.

[@elementro101]

0:00 Intro 0:50 Mission Defined 01:50 Mission Example 03:07 Vision Defined 03:46 Vision Example 04:37 Outro Like if you had to watch this for a class

[@adrianne7714]

not all heros wear capes! haha thanks

[@sanjita333]

I was really confused between vision and vision before watching this video. Now I got it. Thank you Bruce.

[@rmaheshiyer1109]

I think your mission to convey the difference is visionary and full of positive energy! Well done!

[@BruceDJohnson]

Bianca, Thanks! And great words of advice to anyone. One of my frequent lines to clients is, "If you need the approval of people you can't be a leader. You are, by definition, a follower."

[@timursuleimenov7348]

I come from Kazakhstan.. and your example is really funny )))))

[@patelvidhu4840]

A mission statement is about how you will get to where you want to be. A vision statement is about where you want to be.

[@BruceDJohnson]

Patel, almost. A mission statement is about what you do. A vision statement is about what you want to be (as someone who does what you do). Mission statements are about the present moving forward. Vision statements are about the future. But you're pretty close. Hope that helps.

[@mmmmsandwich9723]

Oh ok I understand now thank you For this

[@yamabushiwarrior996]

This was the best explanation with the best examples I have ever seen. Pithy, to the point and makes it easy to guide how I create my statements.

[@wtgguy4955]

Yamabushi Warrior, thanks for the kind words. Plus, you score extra points for the word "pithy" :-) Hope you have a great weekend!

[@BruceDJohnson]

Thanks! Whether someone writes out a mission and/or vision statement or not, they have both. In your case, you have an idea of what you do and some kind of vision of what you want your healthcare company to be. Writing them out simply helps you to be more clear. More importantly, if you have employees, it's critical to write them out so the rest of your team knows them and can create strategies and tactics to accomplish them. As for effects, that's why companies pay strategists. They matter!

[@mayanurafnida8350]

Wow good! Thanks for sharing!

[@mohamedabdi8030]

its very simple and clear, thanks Bruce

[@ifthikarhassan7244]

very short , very clear & well delivered . Thanks Bruce ..

[@BambangSetiawan]

Recap. Mission : what you do. Vision : what you want to become in the future. Thank you for detailed and clear explanation Bruce.

[@BruceDJohnson]

Bambang, thanks. Much appreciated.

[@badiyazdi]

Very educational information. I used this during my school project few years back and now as we are going through re-visiting our organization's vision/mission and strategy at work; this video helped us. Thanks for sharing.

[@nekaj9031]

The best explanation that I have heard so far. Now I get it. Thank you so much.

[@markjames505]

Great video Bruce! Useful and simply elegant.

[@hfvlachosful]

ive also just noticed u have taken the time to reply to everyone here on the post, a true mark of a Leader and a Teacher I might add.

[@wtgguy4955]

Thanks, I just realized that I wasn't receiving these notifications so I'll do better moving forward!

[@benjaminalawani7267]

Great stuff! Mission and Vision so clearly separated in a simple analogical form. Thank you Mr Bruce, for this great video.

[@BruceDJohnson]

Benjamin, you're more than welcome. My honor and privilege. I hope you can use it to propel your business or organization forward to accomplish great things!

[@RaviGupta-yr4mn]

Very much thoughtful yet easy to remember content of the author. Thanks for sharing

[@XellaKosova]

Clear enough, well done!

[@reejusri]

Thanks Johnson... Its pretty clear and well explained.

[@karlnarra2134]

My prof. Assign me to create a mission vision . And now i watch your video , and tnx a lot ! Great idea for making like that

[@rolandoriggio5026]

Thank you for making this video!

[@TheNzStudent]

Very effective explanation in a shortest time .... thanks

[@akkirocknroll]

Thank you very much, clear and great examples which made mission and vision statement very clear in my mind.

[@vinitsharma9480]

Clearly explained. Thank you

[@silentmode]

Thank you. Very clear

[@mayurkhatri4234]

Thanks for sharing...

[@ramanbikram]

Thanks a lot Bruce. Now my vision and mission are clear :-D

[@sashagomes754]

Great explanation, thanks for sharing.

[@kingsleymahisu6828]

I really like the explanations given in all articles

[@hfvlachosful]

thank u sir. this was absolutely clear...as clear as i have truly wished for it to be for a very long time!!! (more examples would be of great help!)

[@darylwilliams2404]

Nice clear distinction, Bruce

[@BruceDJohnson]

Daryl, thanks! Much appreciated!

[@ZuluLing]

Thank you

[@kareemsharawi4778]

Great explanation. Many thanks.

[@SITHEEQUE]

INSPIRING AND EXCELLENT EXPLANATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[@JessePetronio]

Great video , you're a wonderful speaker. Thank you !

[@boninstv]

thanks for your quick replies.... yes... your words helps

[@BruceDJohnson]

Inah, you're most welcome. Here's the other video I mentioned. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mou2mZV4ap6an68 I wish you all the best. B

[@hajrafarooq4748]

perfectly describe the words. thank you so much for making it easy to understand

[@radhikareddy5310]

very clearly explained

[@sagarkharal]

great job. very inspirational person. clear language.

[@cburrell927]

Thank you so much, you are great!!!

[@NWIManagement]

Very effective explanation in a shortest time possible. Thanks a lot for doing this video. subscribed!

[@momiburagohain6083]

thanks.. helped to understand in simple way

[@elainepeuthert6625]

That was great.. Thanks a lot

[@bulltrack7667]

Thanks Bruce, for the educative video.

[@BruceDJohnson]

+Bull Track You're more than welcome. Glad you enjoying learning!

[@phillipgo6475]

thanks, i'm on my way, coz of you !

[@ShikhilNangia]

Elaborate and concise , thank you .

[@BruceDJohnson]

Shikhil, no, thank you :-) Glad you're always learning! Best wishes!

[@rawrrawr7920]

Thank you very much you are a great speaker

[@BruceDJohnson]

April, thanks for the kinds words.

[@MohammedAli-kp3ur]

Very nice explanation.. thnx sir

[@pradyutkumer9964]

Vary vice video, especially the examples used to understand the concept.

[@Mastermind2010ish]

Very good explanation. I Really like it

[@lysdave67]

Thanks much! It helps!

[@abdifatahmohamedali6824]

Best explanation thanks.

[@BruceDJohnson]

Abdifatah, thanks for the kind words.Glad it was helpful. B

[@HK-qq4hm]

amazing!!!

[@kaabool250840]

Fantastic, you made a confusing topic so understandable and straightforward. Thanks a lot.

[@wtgguy4955]

Hesham, you're more than welcome. Glad it was helpful and thanks for taking the time to let me know. I hope you have a great week ahead!

[@gcomkids]

AWESOME VIDEO! Thanks

[@shilohtimothy9581]

This was great! Thanks a ton!

[@TajinderSingh-sf1lc]

It's really very informative . Thanks a lot

[@butchpouka]

thank you

[@addaptconnection7546]

Thanks! The mission statements are sometimes more accessible than the vision which may be difficult to imagine as it is a vision of what does not exist yet. Apparently, the mission delivers what is being done now, so that it is easier to relate to it.

[@BruceDJohnson]

Addapt, Mission statements are more accessible because they're more functional (this is what we currently do). Vision statements are only more difficult to comprehend if the vision isn't clearly communicated in language that those who are hearing it find hard to image. So, if the vision is "to be the most customer-centric company in the world," that would be hard to visualize. However, if the vision was "to be the number one provider of women's dress shoes in the US" that would be easy to visualize. Hope that helps.

[@AfghanHeadlines]

A really clear explanation and great examples thanks, you clear my mind for exam lol , nice job

[@MrHousemusic1991]

Thanks man, your video really helped me :)

[@Mensdivorcecoach]

Very well put and thank you because a lot of people mix that up including myself.

[@BruceDJohnson]

👍 You're not the only one :-) And thanks for the kind words!

[@mblanco83]

very useful , many thanks :)

[@marycastillobusinessandfin3672]

Thank you!!

[@BruceDJohnson]

Mary, you're more than welcome. My honor and pleasure.

[@commerceconcepts782]

very nice lesson dear sir ....like it i had not the clear knowledge about these two strategic decision but u made it very understandable ...thanks very much for sharing this precious video ...live long and happy

[@BruceDJohnson]

Jesse and cburrell927 Thank you both for your encouragement! Bruce

[@janicendamboseh4124]

thank you sir

[@mussaibahmad3654]

Thank you sir I wish my teachers could watch this video and learnt something from you

[@wtgguy4955]

LOL. Best laugh of my day. And thanks for the encouragement.

[@BruceDJohnson]

Thanks, as the child of two teachers, I totally appreciate that.

[@DrTomTonkin]

Just came across this video. Well done. May I add to your definition about vision. To be more operational, I would suggest that a vision statement is a statement about the world with and/or without you. The example a would gave (norfolk Southern) is good, yet, I would change it to say something along the lines of "People agree that Norfolk Southern is ..." or something like that; still providing the aspirational views as you suggested. I look forward to viewing your other videos.

[@ahmedmohsen8166]

This video is really helpful to me. Thanks a lot :)

[@nancylealislamontemayor249]

Very well explained thankyou!

[@BruceDJohnson]

Nancy, Glad you enjoyed it and found it helpful!

[@khalidpervaizbaig4691]

Thanks

[@RasmusGK]

thanks a lot, hope this lets me pass the examination :P

[@kiandaniel1965]

nice explanation

[@bhat_ias2965]

I think you are really to the point guy and I like that

[@BruceDJohnson]

Doc. Thanks! And I try my best. It's a principle I learned years ago called, "The irreducible minimum." Hopefully I always practice it well. Best wishes. B

[@jenielantipuesto5576]

this is really helpful

[@deepakjindal-transformatio2413]

really helpful !!

[@TheRoxas13th]

This video helps me a lot. Thanks for sharing this with us sir!!

[@BruceDJohnson]

You're more than welcome! I wish you the best.

[@shahbadaruddinrian2426]

great

[@KennonFort]

Great content and right at the heart of things I'm deeply considering for my life and business! I wonder if your reference to tennis is an indicator that you actually love tennis. Please tell! :)

[@adskitchen96]

Nice sir

[@khantwinzin8188]

Mr Johnson, I am not clear if this Mission and Vision really have effects on the business. I am running a specialist clinic and don't have both. What Vision or Mission would fit the best for a small healthcare company? With best regards and it really is a very great video.

[@116unashamed]

I'm trying to understand this. In the military we have an endstate (the situation we want at the end of the day) and the mission (how we are going to get there), but often the mission changes according to the situation in order to meet the endstate. What I'm getting from you though is that mission is what we do and the vision is the inspirational word picture that drives mission and therefore vision changes around mission depending on the situation. So I'm asking which is the pivot point?

[@biancamendoza3299]

Looks good! I wouldn't spend too much time trying to please those who you cannot please. 76 likes beats 4.

[@jayanteesookur1454]

Thanks it really helped me

[@ssp286]

Thanks for clear explanation.. Please correct me if I am wrong.... "if we want to establish something then we should first have a vision then a mission"

[@wtgguy4955]

Shailesh, thanks! The question you're asking is a technical one. Most people have a vision for doing something in order to start a business or organization. However, when it comes to strategic planning, the mission statement comes before the vision statement. Mission is what you do, vision is what you want to become (i.e. see). Hope that helps. A vision and a vision statement are two different things. In fact, you can have 100 visions for your company but you should have only one vision statement (that's only one short sentence long).

[@ssp286]

WTGguy Thank you very much Bruce 👍🏻

[@anugerahmohammad5860]

but i'm still confuse to make my vision and mission of speech could you help me!!!!!!!!!

[@MaryCAdams]

very explanatory and clearly understood , GREAT JOB!

[@terrencetang9997]

Hello sir, as you say that mission is focusing on what you do, does that mean that the mission statement changes (might change or changeable) in the future when the company grows?

[@wtgguy4955]

Yes. It used to be that every 5-10 years it was worth revisiting a mission statement. In today's world, at the pace its changing, you might want to do that once every two to three years. Your answer might be, "Keep it. It's still true." But it could also be, "We need to change because the market has changed." Or it could be, "We need to change because we've changed." In other words, your mission could change multiple times over the next 20 years or be the same for the next 20 years. You just don't want to hold onto something that's not true just because you were taught at some point in the past, "Mission statements don't change." That's just not true. I've re-worked them in just about every business I've ever consulted. Hope that helps!

[@terrencetang9997]

WTGguy Great to have your reply, sir! Thousands of thanks!

[@BruceDJohnson]

The normal process would be to create the mission first because it defines what you do. Then based on what you do, you want to figure out what your vision is for creating a business that does that thing. So mission first, vision second.

[@s.t.e1453]

I would beg to differ. Vision statement is like a gameplan. You never have an action plan before a gameplan or an idea where you are heading towards. If an action is done before one knows where this action will lead to, it's equivalent to moving but not progressing in the direction of the vision(end goal) Basically it's to first have an end in mind before taking an action. Know where you are going after.

[@boninstv]

if I'm a pastor n the lord told me "Go and loose Bandages" where does it fits in? thank you

[@BruceDJohnson]

Inah, the mission for all Christian churches is essentially the same, Mt. 28:19. How you word it vs. other churches is up to you. But the mission is the mission. When it comes to vision, there are vision statements and visions. You might want to watch the video I did on how to create a vision statement that inspires to learn how to word your vision statement. But the vision statement for your church should be one that is true of the church as a whole vs. you as an individual. You can have have lots of visions, but only one vision statement. In your case, a potential visions statement might be "to build a community of grace-filled followers of Jesus who are known for helping set people free from the things that hold them back" or something like that (assuming that's what you mean by loosening bandages). Hope that helps!

[@MentoringGrowingLeaders]

Inah, I'm a pastor, too. What the Lord told you to do is your Personal Mission Statement (what you do). Work on your Vision Statement - what do you see for the future? "I see people of every nation, man, woman and child, healed and whole in spirit, soul and body." Or something like that. - Charles

[@reginafaye8521]

smart

[@AfghanHeadlines]

I like all your videos , your amizing thanks ,

[@jmeulen1]

Thanks, exams tomorrow....

[@jenielantipuesto5576]

am a student and a have a project in making strategic plan...

[@pancakes308]

When an employer tells you that he’s going to send you the mission statement when the interview ends. Does it mean you got the job?

[@carrenojesus81]

Thanks ! This helped my friend ! WASTE HIM TIME

[@lakshmipriya7060]

excellent topic! i think vision is long term and mission is short term. i use "justgoals" iPhone app to set and achieve long , mid and short term goals