If you are a leader you are charged with setting the course for your organization or team. People look to you for direction. You are in the very place you are because you are a leader. It is your job to keep things on course and headed in the right direction. Therefore you need to be a person with vision.
A person with vision knows where they are are going and how they want to get there. The questions the visionary asks are: ' Where are we? Where do we want to go? How will we get there? How will we know we are there?'. The importance of vision cannot be overstated. But having vision is one thing. Communicating it and carrying it out is another. Vision requires action. Vision requires a plan. Vision requires strategy.
In this short post I will provide several fundamentals found in a good vision.
It has Clarity
When casting vision, it has to be clear. Clarity removes potential for chaos and confusion. A lot of times we may have ideas and goals, but we have not taken the time to get clear on what they are. People need clear and precise objectives to go after. Especially when you are leading a team. There should be no misunderstanding about what it is your team is after. If you or the people you lead do not have a clear grasp on the goal you will not know where you are headed. You will make decisions that derail your progress and get distracted with things are are not aligned with your pursuit.
It is Communicated
Sadly, this is perhaps one of the major pitfalls of most people charged with crafting and carrying out vision. People need to know what the vision is. People cannot be expected to go after something or be held to account for something that has never been communicated to them. Good vision is communicated and communicated often. Just as the vision needs clarity, so does the communication. At the heart of every effective organization is a healthy communication funnel.
It is Compelling
A good vision is worth the pursuit. It has benefits. There is something about it that draws you and your team to pursue it. This is so important in the communication phase as well. People need to see why their lives and the lives of others will benefit as the result of this vision being realized. In the Business world, it is referred to as adding value. What is it about your vision that makes it a worthwhile pursuit. Why will things be better once it is achieved.
It is Carried out
Vision requires action. A good idea is just an idea. A vision without a plan is a dream. Vision needs a strategic plan to guide the efforts. Things just don't happen. They have to get done. As you get clear on your vision, and communicate it clearly, then the implementation strategy must be enacted. Any good vision needs a good plan. The plan guides the process of decision making to make sure that all decisions bring you closer to the goal. The plan is the blueprint, and it must be acted on. There must be measures in place to gauge progress. Again, vision requires action.
While there is definitely more to say on this topic, but it always comes back to these basics. I hope these points help you be a better visionary leader.
Comment below and let me know if and how this has helped you.