Developing your Personal Vision Statement

A personal vision statement is a picture of your true self in the future a

compass that guides you in the process of creating your life. It is a reflection of
what you want to be, what you want to do, how you want to feel, what you want
to own, and who you want to associate with.
It is a statement of who you are becoming and a powerful tool to help you realize
the life you want to live.
Your personal vision statement should answer these three questions:
1. What is my life about (purpose)?
2. What do I stand for (values)?
3. What actions do I take to manifest my purpose and values?
Questions for Exploration
What are the ten things you most enjoy doing? These are ten things without
which your weeks, months, and years would feel incomplete.

What cant you live without? Name five things you would like to have.

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Identify five people who have been most influential in your life. What qualities
have you gained or would you like to gain from these people?

Name five roles you play or hope to play in your life (ex. mother, friend,
volunteer, writer). Write down one or two important goals for each of them.

What are your five most important values? Write down actions or strategies that
would represent living out these values.

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Draft
Begin crafting your personal vision statement. Come back to this draft frequently
to evaluate and revise it, until you have a statement that reflects your unique
vision.
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Your personal vision statement might change over time depending on your life
circumstances, but key components will remain consistent. Ensure that your
vision statement inspires the best in you!

UCL Personal Leadership

Values & Vision University of Calgary Leadership

1. Please take five minutes to start writing about Values & Vision. This is a free writing
exercise. Please write whatever comes to your mind.

2. What are some of your deeply held values? What values do you hold?

3. What is a value?

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4. Storytelling time. Please pick out key words or value-laden words from your partners
stories. Switch sheets with your partner so they take home the key words that you
picked out.
Story
Something you do really well and
why you are successful at it.

Key words

A moment that you had that

inspired or impressed you.
How do you describe the secret of
life to future generations?
If you could have any question
answered, what would it be? In
other words, what do you wonder
about?
Describe a success in your life.

Types of Values
Values can be put into different categories, although most will fit into more than one. Here
are some different value classifications as well as examples of personal values please
feel free to add more.
Gordon Allports (1931) six value categories:

Theoretical interest in the discovery of truth through reasoning and systematic

thinking
Economic interest in usefulness and practicality, including the accumulation of
wealth
Aesthetic interest in beauty, form and artistic harmony
Social interest in people and love in human relationships
Political interest in gaining power and influencing people
Religious interest in unity and in understanding the cosmos as a whole

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Rokeach (1973) value survey:

Terminal Values

Instrumental Values

A comfortable life (and prosperous)

An exciting life (stimulation)
A sense of accomplishment (lasting contribution)
A world of peace (free of war and conflict)
A world of beauty (beauty of nature and the arts)
Equality (brotherhood, equal opportunity)
Family security (taking care of loved ones)
Freedom (independence, free choice)
Happiness (contentedness)
Inner harmony (freedom from inner conflict)
Mature love (sexual and spiritual intimacy)
National security (attack protection)
Pleasure (leisurely, enjoyable life)
Salvation (saved, eternal life)
Self-respect (self-esteem)
Social recognition (admiration, respect)
True friendship (close companionship)
Wisdom (mature understanding of life)

Ambitious (hardworking)
Broad-minded (open-minded)
Capable (competent, effective)
Cheerful (lighthearted, joyful)
Clean (neat, tidy)
Courageous (standing up for beliefs)
Forgiving (willing to pardon)
Helpful (working for others welfare)
Honest (sincere, truthful)
Imaginative (creative, daring)
Independent (self-sufficient, self-reliant)
Intellectual (intelligent, reflective)
Logical (rational, consistent)
Loving (affectionate, tender)
Obedient (dutiful, respectful)
Polite (courteous, well-mannered)
Responsible (reliable, dependable)
Self-controlled (self-disciplined)

Psychological
Courage
Happiness
Acceptance
Appreciation
Fun
Self-reliance
Inclusion
Individuality
Compassion
Positivity
Self-discipline
Peace of mind
Maturity

Physical
Health
Well-being
Pleasure
Safety
Hygiene
Freedom
Privacy
Wealth
Financial security

Intellectual
Learning
Knowledge
Wisdom
Creativity
Skill
Truth
Innovation
Education
Intelligence
Fairness
Imagination

Spiritual
Faith
Balance
Meaningful work
Peace
Nature
Simplicity
Service
Beauty
Appreciation of life
Quietude
Balance
Harmony

Social
Friendship
Family
Romance
Consideration
Tolerance
Community
Trust
Respect
Diversity
Cooperation
Honesty
Empathy

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5. Looking at the values you named above, as well as the values that were reflected in the
storytelling exercise, list 10 of the most important values to you. You can use the value
lists above to help.
1.

6.

2.

7.

3.

8.

4.

9.

5.

10.

6. Looking at your list, please take your top five values and put them in the pie graph
below. Please separate the pie graph in the importance that your values take.

My Values pie
chart!

7. Does your above graph reflect how you spend your time? If no, why not?

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8. There are seven questions below that were developed by Raths, Simon and Harmin to
identify full values. Looking at your values above and the questions below, determine
if your values are full values.

Was the value chosen feely (without force or coercion)?

Was the value chosen from alternatives (or was it the only choice)?
Was the value chosen after considerations of the consequences of this value?
Do you cherish the value? In other words, does the value make you happy?
Are you wiling to publicly affirm that this is a value to hold?
Are you acting on the value (or is it just something that is said)?
Do you display this value repeatedly and consistently?

Reflection Questions
1. When does the value matter to you the most?
2. What is the definition/meaning of the value? What definition/meaning do you give it?
What does it mean to you?
3. If someone was to write a headline about you as a leader, what would that headline
be? (include the value in the headline statement).
4. How do you know when youve reached, demonstrated or are living the value? What
does that look, feel and sound like?
5. In what specific ways have you already embedded (or translated into action) this value
in your life?
6. In what specific ways would you like to grow this value as a practice in your
leadership life?
7. What are the factors that disrupt your abilities to live this value (for example, what are
the things that disrupt your focus?)
8. What are the factors that enable your ability to live this value?
9. How do you think this value enables your leadership development?
10. What lessons about this value have you already learned in your leadership/life
experience to-date?
11. If you met someone who didnt agree with this value, what would your perception of
and response to that individual be? Why?
12. Who are the people in your life that are champions of your values that you can turn to
for support when you need it?

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Developing your Personal Vision Statement

A personal vision statement is a picture of your true self in the future a compass that guides
you in the process of creating your life. It is a reflection of what you want to be, what you
want to do, how you want to feel, what you want to own, and who you want to associate with.
It is a statement of who you are becoming and a powerful tool to help you realize the life you
want to live.
Your personal vision statement should answer these three questions:
1. What is my life about (purpose)?
2. What do I stand for (values)?
3. What actions do I take to manifest my purpose and values?
Questions for Exploration
What are the ten things you most enjoy doing? These are ten things without which your
weeks, months, and years would feel incomplete.

What cant you live without? Name five things you would like to have.

UCL Personal Leadership

Identify five people who have been most influential in your life. What qualities have you
gained or would you like to gain from these people?

Name five roles you play or hope to play in your life (ex. mother, friend, volunteer, writer).
Write down one or two important goals for each of them.

What are your five most important values? Write down actions or strategies that would
represent living out these values.

UCL Personal Leadership

Draft
Begin crafting your personal vision statement. Come back to this draft frequently to evaluate
and revise it, until you have a statement that reflects your unique vision.
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
Your personal vision statement might change over time depending on your life
circumstances, but key components will remain consistent. Ensure that your vision statement
inspires the best in you!

UCL Personal Leadership