Call them resolutions or call them goals, many people don’t identify with creating a list of things they want to achieve in the coming year. For these small business owners, I offer an alternative: the vision board.
What is a vision board for your business?
A vision board is a piece of paper or board covered with collaged images from magazines, drawings, and words. It’s a visual representation of the things you want to achieve for your business. What makes a vision board more effective than a list of New Year’s resolutions for many is that a) it’s visual, and b) you can keep it where you can see it every day, which constantly reminds you of what you’re striving to achieve.
Why vision boards work
As a business owner, you likely spend a lot of time working on day-to-day tasks, which means you might not always look up to consider the big picture. Taking time to create a vision board pulls you out of the rote tasks you handle frequently and forces you to consider what you want your business to do, the direction you want to take the company, and the goals you want to achieve for your business.
And unlike making a list of resolutions or goals and shoving it into a drawer, never to see the light of day, you can place your vision board in your office where you will see it daily and where it can serve as a reminder of what you’re working towards.
What can you put on a business vision board?
Really, the sky is the limit for the images you select for your board, but I recommend keeping them within the realm of reality. For example, if you put an image that represents you selling your business for $5 million when you don’t actually believe that is possible, it likely won’t come true. Instead, you might put an image that represents a boost in revenues or the launch of a new product.
I recommend avoiding being too specific. Maybe you are tempted to put $200,000 on your vision board as the amount of money you want to earn this year. Instead, find an image that represents wealth and success. This keeps you open to possibilities rather than setting a firm target that you might not hit…or that you might exceed.
You might also find words, phrases, or quotes that fit your vision for the future, and you can add those to your board.
Make it a team effort
If you have employees, it can be a great team-building exercise to carve out time for a vision board workshop. Each team or department can create a board that highlights what they want to achieve for the company this year.
For example, a board for the marketing team might focus on expanding into video content or reaching new audiences. Finance’s board might have the objective of automating payroll and administrative work, as well as cutting costs. Management might create a board that focuses on expanding into new markets or increasing profits.
Creating the board as a team spurs great conversations and ideas. Encourage everyone to contribute their own creativity to the board.
How to create a vision board for your small business
While you can also create a digital vision board using graphic software like Canva, I recommend creating a physical board because it immerses you in the tangible experience of creating.
To create your vision board, you’ll need cardboard or foam board (something durable enough to stand up by itself if leaning against a support), magazines, markers, paper, scissors, and glue.
Start by doing some journaling.
- How do you want to improve [insert operations/activity/results] over last year?
- Where do you want your business to be by the end of the year?
- What goals do you have for the business?
- How would you like to invest in the business?
- Who do you want to work with or sell to?
Think about short-term and long-term goals for your business. What do you want to accomplish this year…but also within the next five or 10 years?
With your answers in mind, start sifting through your pile of magazines and images. Realize that not everything has to be a literal representation of what you’re portraying. For example, if you want to bring in more revenues, you could use a dollar sign, or something more abstract like a flowing waterfall or something the color green.
You can also add words and draw images (especially if you can’t find an image to cut out). Don’t overthink it. Even if you don’t consider yourself creative, once you allow yourself to get into the flow of the creative process, you’ll figure out which images resonate with you and where you want to place them on your vision board. There is no wrong way to do it!
While creating a vision board for your company goals may seem a little left-field from what you’re used to doing for your business, that’s exactly why you should consider creating one. By stepping out of your usual flow of thinking, you disrupt your neurons and invite them to consider other pathways. And having a visual representation of what you want to achieve provides a constant reminder so that every day, you put attention toward making those goals a reality. If tough times hit, it’s that vision board that will remind you why you’re working so hard.
