A vison must be visible to have a powerful, lasting impact on your business.

 

I have recently been working with a business coaching client to help them articulate a vision that will set the sails of their business for a successful and prosperous future.  As I have shared in the previous two posts, a vision can be described as powerful when:

(i)    the achievement of it seems almost impossible
(ii)   your team buys in to it and believe they can make it happen
(iii)  it is visible around the office
(iv)  the owner of the business is seen to be leading the charge

 

What does it mean to make that vision visible?

 

Many business owners often go to lavish expense and print posters of the vision, have them framed professionally and then mount them on the wall for all to see.  That’s weak.  That’s what you do with a trophy fish or deer.  You don’t want your vision statement to become something people point at and admire, remembering the day they ‘killed’ it, do you?  No, you want to bring life to your vision.

 

It is true that putting the vision on the wall is a good idea as long as it is not the only thing you do.  My reason for being so in your face about this is I wanted to yank your chain a bit to shake you out of the idea that a framed vision is guaranteed for success.  It’s not what visibility means.

 

The best way you can keep your vision visible and current with your team is to have a monthly vision meeting.  This meeting is dedicated to the single focus of the vision, no business-as-usual or operational distractions!  I know how very difficult this as to manage – the day to day operations of your business has a huge bearing on the future direction.  They key for you as the leader, is to drive the discussion towards ideas that are not limited by the current situation.  This way staff are encouraged to release themselves from their everyday limitation of resources, position or experience and have a free exploration of what could be possible.

 

If (and when) points arise that refer to current operations then you can “park” them on a list that can be addressed directly by the staff members who work in that department or carry that area of responsibility.  They have the most knowledge and can most easily remove obstacles when they are empowered by the leader and inspired by the vision.

 

By keeping these meetings regular you are reminding the team that the vision is a future destination they are constantly walking towards.  As I’ll discuss next time, they need you more than you think in this process.

Without leadership people flounder.

 

In my previous post I shared about a coaching session I had with a client who wanted to set a clear, compelling and captivating direction for their business.  I referred to this as a vision that was powerful.

 

To me a business vision can be described as powerful when:

(i)    the achievement of it seems almost impossible
(ii)   your team buys in to it and believe they can make it happen
(iii)  it is visible around the office
(iv)  the owner of the business is seen to be leading the charge

 

Today I want to share some thoughts and challenge you to address your vision.  Last time I discussed the first point, today the second.

 

TEAM BUY IN

Some business leaders feel they can print a vision statement and hang it on the wall and then declare it implemented.  How wrong they are.  Worse than that would be sending a group email to all staff advising them of the new vision and requesting participation.  I know you wouldn’t dream of doing something so stupid, would you?!

 

Your people are your greatest asset.  That means you have to treat them that way, respect their perpective and input, and invite them into the journey.  The way you do that is referred to as “casting vision”.  This phrase has been popularized by modern writers and is an age-old truth handed down since the writings of King Solomon.  This phrase, casting vision, refers to the process a leader engages themselves in to bring unity and cohesiveness so that everyone accepts the vision and moves forward as one combined force towards the destination.

 

Sharing vision with your team is more than speaking it out, it’s more like selling it.  Take my family, for instance.  If I have the “vision” to go the beach for the weekend I have to convince them its a good idea so they come along willingly.  (Many of you parents know how unenjoyable a weekend away with grumpy teenagers can be!)  While the idea of going to the beach for the weekend sounds like an easy vision to sell to my family, your vision should also sound like a great idea that people would want to be involved in!  Surely you’re not planning to set a vision to be the worst employer in town with a bad reputation – no way!  What I mean by this is you should have an easy sell to the team to get them on board.

 

The way to NOT get them on board is to assume that they will come for the ride, even of you don’t ask them.  Like most assumptions, that’s a bad assumption to make.  As I’ve learned with my family, don’t drag them along, invite them along and “sell” how much fun its going to be and how rewarding the result will be.

 

In conclusion, Team Buy In to your vision will make it powerful.  Here’s what my client is finding;  as they bring staff in for discussion meetings and invite open-minded thinking to the table for the development of strategy people are getting excited.  They’re talking about the future of the business during lunch, they’re swapping ideas over coffee, and they’re approaching the owners with suggestions they have about how the business can be improved so that it can reach the desired future.  Wouldn’t you love that in your business?

 

Next time I’ll discuss how important the visibility of your vision is, and I might not say it the way you think!