Your vision matters. Here’s how to share it.
What Vision Is
Part of what makes leaders so inspiring is that they are able to see something that others don’t yet. In other words, leaders have a vision that inspires them. They share that vision so that it inspires others. And, they help others make measurable progress on that vision.
So a first step for most leaders is to develop a vision that inspires them and that they want to share with others. After they’ve done that, it is time to share the vision.
(And just to clarify, we are talking about “leadership vision” and not “superhero Vision.” Though he is cool too.)
Source: Wikipedia.org
Why Your Vision Matters
Independent human beings make up all organizations, communities, and teams. Each of them have a variety of needs, wants, and agendas. Without some organizing force that helps the group move in a common direction, chaos is inevitable.
As a side note, I used to think that “If I were a better leader, things wouldn’t be so messy.” Now I understand that dealing with “messy” is part of leadership. So I encourage my coaching clients to remind themselves that when things get messy, that’s when their leadership is needed most. Creating, sharing, and taking action on a common vision is one way to do that.
How to Share Your Vision
When you are ready to share your vision with others, this process that will serve both you and your followers well. Communicate:
Who you are
Where you are going
The obstacles you will face
How you will overcome them
Why it's worth the effort
First, remind your followers who you are as a group. In other words, what is your shared identity? For some groups, it is a mission statement - “We are a team who delivers exceptional customer service.” For others, it is a set of shared values - “We are an organization who value both relationships and results.”
Next, clarify where you are going as a group. What’s the goal you want to achieve together? “Over the next month, we will improve our customer service scores by x.” Or, “we will make sure that we listen to our patients so that they feel valued as human beings.”
Third, address the obstacles you will face. For some leaders, this is counterintuitive. They don’t want to discourage or distract those they lead. That makes sense. But keep in mind that most people are sharp enough to foresee obstacles once the vision is shared. Do both them and yourself a favor by admitting it won’t be easy and sharing how you plan to deal with that. It will show them that you aren’t selling rainbows and unicorns.
Then, share your plan for overcoming those obstacles. Show people you have a realistic plan. It will help ease both their anxieties and yours.
Finally, remind them why it is worth the effort. It takes a lot of energy to make change happen. Change energizes some personality types. It terrifies others. Help your group see why this is worth all the effort. Bonus points if you can tie everything back to shared values.
Share these talking points over and over, and make adjustments as needed. The results will be a team that knows where they are going, how they will get there, and why it matters.
For Reflection
What are the shared values of your team, community, or organization?
How can you tap into those values to motivate your team to action?
What will be the benefit of doing so?