Finding purpose: Three reasons why a corporate vision matters

It would be an understatement to say Otis has had a busy year. As I step into my new role as president and CEO and Otis prepares to return to our roots as an independent company, we face new challenges and extraordinary opportunities.

In these moments, I find it important to define the vision that will help us move forward. What will Otis work toward?

Our new vision answers:

We give people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world.

This vision will be our roadmap in the days ahead as we make crucial decisions about our business.

Perhaps most important, our vision statement tells the world that we aspire to something big – bigger and more transformative, while remaining true to our legacy, culture and values.

Foundationally, as we leverage our technology to help the world grow taller, faster and smarter, our focus will never stray from the people impacted by the forces of urbanization and digitalization. We will ensure technology works not just to connect, but to help humanity thrive within the growing urban world.

A world where technology unites, not divides us. Where physical processes work as seamlessly as digital ones. Where people across nations have access to the farthest corners of their cities and move freely.

We deliberately chose each word of our statement because a vision is more than a directive from leadership. It’s a tangible message to our customers, our community and most of all, to our employees.

1. A clear vision gives employees a reason to believe

It’s critical to communicate a vision of where you’re going – a shared belief among your colleagues. A long-term, inspirational – perhaps even audacious – vision helps employees connect to a purpose. Research from EY defines organizational purpose as “an aspirational reason for being which inspires and provides a call to action for an organization.”

There is no greater resource at Otis than our colleagues. I spend much of my time traveling the world to meet, listen and communicate with our teams – from service mechanics to branch managers, and from our call center representatives to our regional leadership teams. I’m excited to share our vision for the future. Once Otis colleagues understand where we’re going and feel empowered to act on it – it’s amazing to watch the culture shift and to see the power this has on moving our entire company forward.

2. An authentic vision allows culture to thrive

To achieve your vision, it must align with your culture. At Otis, we define our culture through five statements and ensure each one ladders up to our overarching vision.

For example, at Otis we are many voices. We value input from everyone. In developing our new vision, we created a team of cross-functional and cross-regional members to ensure that we had diversity of thought and opinion and to evaluate its meaning across our many geographies and languages.

 Additionally, we celebrate imagination. We encourage new thinking and smart risk taking. Now – with a vision of a taller, faster, smarter world – we’re giving employees something to channel their ideas and innovations toward.

By rooting our aspirations in the qualities we already personify, everyone at Otis can find natural ways to contribute with an ultimate shared goal in mind.

3. An ambitious vision can change the future

We should never forget that even the most advanced technologies aren’t solely responsible for change. Lasting impact requires action, commitment and engagement from your colleagues. An ambitious vision is exceeded only by our employees’ dedication to see it through.

At Otis, I’ve experienced this first-hand. It’s inspiring to work with colleagues on the frontline of enriching people’s experiences in a world that is becoming increasingly urban and connected.

With a vision to believe in, a strong culture and personal dedication, our team at Otis will no doubt think, act and lead us into the future we aspire to achieve.

We are Otis.