The lack of Political and Corporate Visions have echoed through headlines and community alike in the aftermath of the Federal election.
Across both government and the corporate world, leaders seem to be settling for the what instead of the why. We are bombarded with Mission statements and Policy plans, or lack of plans, yet few offer a bold, aspirational Vision of the future.
Why does this matter? Because Vision isn’t fluff. It’s what inspires, unites, and drives a nation or an organization forward.
So why is Vision so rare?
Could it be that the abstract nature of a Vision, the fear of being wrong, the pressure for short-term results, and the difficulty in aligning stakeholders all contribute to this struggle?
Or could it be the real challenge of translating the Vision into concrete policies, actions, and measurable outcomes?
When leaders shy away from Vision, they don’t just avoid risk — they shortchange the community, especially in relation to our Values.
Values are what defines a nation, or an organisation.
For Australia, Values have been defined as freedom, respect, fairness and equality of opportunity. It is said, they define and shape our country and are a reason why so many people want to become Australian citizens.
However, the Vision many people are calling for is absent. Our leaders – in politics and business – are falling back on Missions statements because they are easier to define and measure.
Unfortunately, a Mission without a Vision is like a journey without a destination.
The Prime Minister’s Department is a case in point. It has a Mission statement but not a Vision statement. "To improve the life of all Australians" is a worthy goal and is stated as the Department’s Mission statement, but it falls short of being a compelling Vision statement.
It lacks the specificity, aspirational quality, and differentiation needed to guide Australia towards a distinctive and inspiring future. It suggests that political leaders may be focusing on short-term, measurable goals (Mission) rather than a long-term, transformative Vision - a truly compelling and distinctive Vision.
The reality is that while a Vision is crucial for long-term success and inspiring employees, it's often more challenging to create and implement than a mission statement.
Companies, in particular default to Mission statements because they are more concrete, measurable, and practical in the short term. However, the most successful companies have both a clear Vision and a well-defined Mission that work together to guide the organization.
This assessment is the same for the nation. To have an inspirational Vision statement, Australia needs something that answers these questions:
- What kind of society do we aspire to be?
- What are our unique strengths and how can we leverage them?
- What challenges do we need to overcome to achieve our aspirations?
- What will Australia be known for on the world stage?
Without a clear and compelling Vision, Australia risks drifting without a clear sense of purpose or direction.
For Australia to have a Vision, there is a need to consider some key points
- a free and united nation where every individual has the opportunity to succeed,
- where families and communities are strong,
- enterprise drives prosperity, and
- our natural environment is preserved for future generations.
All of this must be underpinned by a secure, engaged role in a peaceful global order.
Therefore, Our Vision could be:
A free, fair, and prosperous Australia — for everyone.
Our Mission
The mission is to create a nation in which individual liberty is protected, equal opportunity is accessible to all, and communities are empowered to thrive.
Our Strategy
The Vision and Mission could be achieved through a strategy which complements our Values by:
- Promotion of a strong commitment to individual rights and freedoms through our Civics program
- Engaging business (large and small) in a dynamic, market-based economy that rewards innovation and initiative
- Educating the community via Inclusive policies that foster social cohesion and family resilience
- Fostering Strategic international partnerships that promote peace and security
- Developing Environmental responsibility to ensure sustainability for future generations
In general discussion terms, this translate to:
- People are free to live their lives
- Everyone has a fair chance to succeed
- Families and communities are supported
- Businesses grow and create opportunity
- We protect our environment for future generations
- We stand strong with global partners to keep Australia safe
Together, we’re building a better future — for all Australians.
As was highlighted early in this article, a Vision statement is just the starting point. The real challenge is translating the Vision to complement our nation’s Values through Strategies, Objectives and Tactics that are engaging, collaborative, measurable, and financially responsible
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