The school's leadership bears the burden of creating and making sure the new vision statement is implemented. If a single individual, such as the principal, creates the vision statement, it may come into existence quickly and will probably be clear, focused and well understood by the administrative leader responsible for it. However, teachers and students often feel this kind of change is forced upon them without consideration of their situation. Therefore, implementation may be slower. If it is created through consensus a vision statement may be embraced more easily by the school community, but it may take longer to create.
The most important people to realizing a school's vision are those responsible for implementing it. They do not need to be involved in it creation, but they do need to believe in the goals it contains. The Southwest Educational Development Laboratory maintains a solid vision statement "attracts commitment and energizes people, creates meaning in workers' lives, establishes a standard of excellence, bridges the present to the future, and transcends the status quo." Teachers need to believe administrators will support them when they make decisions based on the vision statement. A vision statement clearly understood by administrators and teachers will unite them in a common goal.
A school vision needs to be stated in words that are easy to remember, clear to follow and inspirational. People understand clear and inspiring language, and feel more open to creating change and following the vision. Researchers at Michigan State University discovered "the school vision is best communicated when clear, crisp and stirring language is used. Extraordinary things are accomplished in schools when everyone is treated as an important contributing member, including beginning teachers." The words contained in the vision statement are important and should describe the community's vision for the future.
Administrators and creators of the school's vision cannot just rely on words to inspire the community to embrace their ideas for change. The school community must sense administrators' belief in the changes they propose and their commitment to that change. This is articulated best through the administrators' daily actions. If they make decisions based on the new vision statement and uphold teachers' decisions based on the same vision, everyone in the community will feel empowered by the changes. In this way the community becomes united in the school's vision and goals.