Vision Focus Areas & 1 Year Goals

Having written your Vision Statement it is now time to start working toward that Vision on a day to day basis.  To do that it is now time to define both your Vision Focus Areas and your 1 Year Goals as a first step.  Later on we will define Quarterly Initiatives.  

Vision Focus Areas

Vision Focus Areas are the major themes that you see running through your Visions Statement.  When you define the 3-5 focus areas it helps your 1 Year Goals flow pretty easily and you can articulate the 3-5 most important things that you will be focusing on over the next 3 years. 

• Look at your Vision Statement and look for the main themes or key points that you need to focus on.
• Determine 3-5 Focus Areas from your Vision Statement, which will help inform your 1 Year Goals.
• Answer the question, "What are the key points or themes that stand out the most in the Vision Statement?"

1 Year Goals

1 Year Goals are those things that will be our priorities over the next 12 months.  These are the most important things, the things that will take your organization to the next level, the non-negotiables to accomplish.  More is not better here and will only serve to distract you, don't be afraid if there is really only one thing.

• Determine what can be accomplished over 1 year toward the fulfillment of the 3 Year Vision/Vision Focus Areas.  Make sure it is big enough, you should not be able to complete it in 3 or 6 months.
• Set no more than 3 goals.  Part of the purpose of this exercise is about helping your organization focus on what is most important.
• Make them SMART Goals - Specific/Measurable/Achievable/Results-Driven/Time-Bound.
• Use the calendar year, so if you are in the middle of a year, then set a goal that can be accomplished by the end of the year.
• Answer the question, "If we accomplish nothing else over the next 12 month we will..."