How to check whether you agree with your organization's vision
Every company works with goals and a vision. This says where your stand for as company. It is important to work with this, because goals give you focus where you want to be today, tomorrow, in one year or 5 years and Why.
Short and long-term goals
Goals exist out of short term goals or long term goals. A goal can be set for the following week but also for in 5 years.
A long term goal for a restaurant could be “I would like to be the best fish restaurant in Rotterdam in 2020” or “We only serve biological and sustainable product in our restaurant in 2020”. But there are short term goals, such as “Next week we will focus on the seasonal product asparagus. The goal of the week will be to at least sell the Dutch asparagus dish 50 times”. The goals and vision are directly linked to you and your work.
Being up to date and supporting the vision and goals is important, because:
- You know what is expected from you, you know what you have to do. It provides security and clarity.
- It motivates you to give a little bit extra. You know what your organisation stands for and what your part in the game is to achieve it.
- The goals have a direct effect on the bigger goal of your organisation. When the bigger goal is to achieve € x amount of turnover this year? Then the short term goal and your performance contribute to the success of your company.
Discover if you agree with your organisation’s vision
How is it possible that you do no (fully) support the vision and goals of your employer. Why is this? Do you not agree with the vision? Do you think differently about it? To what extent does this obstruct you in your job? If so, you should ask yourself if your employer suits you. Maybe you cannot fully perform because of it. Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Does the difference in opinion obstruct your activities?
Do you notice you cannot perform because you do not fully support the goals and/or vision? And would you like to see this differently? Research (step 2) why you do not (fully) support the vision and goals of your organisation
2. Why are you not supporting the vision and goals of your organisation?
Think about why you do not agree with certain goals of the organisation. Engage in a conversation with your supervisors to check what you can do about it.
No match?
When you are not supporting the vision and goals of the organisation and your opinion is to opposite of your employer’s, you and the organisation do not match. It can be that you and your employer differ in such a way it affects your energy level, resulting in you not contributing for 100%. You can compare this to a bucket of water with holes in the bottom. It can leak some water – in this case energy – at the bottom of the bucket as long as the bucket keeps filling up. But when too much water is leaking without filling the bucket up, the bucket will become empty.
Does your bucket leak too much energy? What causes this? What are the aspects you do not support? Why are you not supporting this? And what kind of employer would suit you?
What do you really want?
When it seems you and your organisation are no match, be honest to yourself! Ask yourself if you will be happy at the company you work now. Ask yourself the following questions: Where do I stand for? What makes me happy? And what does not? Do I want to be doing my current work in 3 years? What is my dream? What do I want to achieve? Is that possible within this job?
You have got your goals and vision. Be honest to yourself and see if your employer and you really fit each other.
