If you could define the most successful flight department, what would it look like? How would the team act toward each other?
Would your executive transportation services be different? Would flight operations change?
In our last blog post, we explained why it's important to create a vision, mission and values for your flight department. And we shared five steps on how to organize a successful offsite.
The second step in this process is to define your vision. What's that, you ask?
Define the Aviation Team Vision Statement
A team vision statement is a…
- Short sentence or tagline, if you will, that defines where you want to go
- Expression of your future state of being
- Theme that inspires and connects people
- Common view of how things should be
7 Tips to Writing your Aviation Team Vision Statement
1. Define Your Future State
Ask your team to define the perfect state of being,and then write it down in the present tense. Why do you exist? What's your purpose?
Examples:
- Microsoft: "A computer on every desktop."
- Nike: "To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world."
- Apple: "A computer in the hands of everyday people."
- Charles Schwab: "Helping investors help themselves."
- Disney: "Make people happy."
- Google: "To provide access to the world's information in one click."
2. Make it Memorable
A team vision is written as a short sentence or statement. And it should inspire.
It should be to the point and easy to remember.
A well-written vision can give you goose bumps. It should be powerful and say "We do this" -- not "We want to do this" or, "We're going to do this."
3. Keep in Sync
Your vision statement should connect your aviation department and host organization together.
It should spell out how the two groups are in sync. Thus, the phrase should resonate with both groups.
The power of advocacy magnifies ten-fold if you both say what you're all about in the same way.
4. Gain Consensus
One of the important things in this process is inclusion. Everybody needs to have a say and feel a sense of ownership.
After all, it's your team's vision—not the director's or reporting executive's sole vision.
The statement should answer the question, "If everything is going right and the way we want things to, here's what it looks like."
To get buy-in, refer to the vision frequently at all levels in the flight department. This will legitimize it.
When it's done right, it's not a waste of time.
5. Make it Achievable
A great vision is achievable. But, it should also cause the organization to stretch.
Just think of Michelangelo's famous painting, The Creation of Adam. You see God and Adam's fingers very close—almost touching.
You vision should always be a stretch, but within reach.
6. Make it Visible
It's your team's vision. Be proud! Make your tagline visible almost everywhere you go.
Put it on giant posters or paint the phrase on the hangar wall or in your lobby. Let your executives, employees and passengers know what you're about. Put it on your notebook binders and your passenger briefing cards.
Think of it as branding for your flight department. Translate into an image, a visual your team can relate to.
You should see your vision statement a few times when walking through flight department facilities.
7. Align with your Goals
Every year when you set your new annual goals and objectives, you should revisit your vision, mission and values to see if you'r eon track.
Are your new initiatives going to help you achieve your "larger than life purpose?" Does your vision increase your alignment you with corporate?
Usually the vision changes very little, but the mission might change.
Great! But How Will We Get There?
Think of your vision in terms of an American football game. You want all of the organization's players to operate with a clear, common vision --- to get down the field and score!
And it's important that everyone knows his or her role in making the next touchdown.
But to accomplish the vision, you'll need a mission-- or a playbook -- to help every team member make the necessary passes,maneuvers and tackles to get to the future state of being.
Then, finally, creating the team's values ensures that the team is operating as cohesive unit. There's camaraderie, integrity, respect and alignment.
Next Step
Do your existing aviation team vision, mission and values statements need some work? Or does your aviation organization still need to develop them?
Perhaps your team could benefit from a strategy session or offsite meeting facilitated by impartial business aviation experts?