Thoughts About Vision (Part 2)

Yesterday we looked at part 1, Typical Problems with Vision.  Today we move on to part 2, Why You Need a Vision.  I’d suggest four reasons:

First, because it creates a motivating sense of destination.  It therefore sets direction, galvanises and channels everyone’s energies towards a common end.

Second, it’s a great way of getting the most out of limited resources because it focuses everyone’s efforts.  Putting it another way, it forces you to make choices around what you will do and will not do.

Third, an inspiring vision that appeals to people’s intrinsic motivation – meaning their desire to grow and get better at their jobs, their wish for autonomy and their desire for a fulfilling sense of purpose and connection – gets people over the “here we go again” feeling at the beginning of each new financial year.  You see, many companies motivate simply through financial targets, but the dial goes back to zero every year.  The result?  Employees feel they are achieving something but going nowhere.  It’s as though they are living a “Groundhog Day” existence – lots of activity, but nothing ever, fundamentally, changes.  And that’s frustrating.  And wearing.  But an inspiring vision acts as people’s North Star.  And that’s when you have activity with direction, which is far more satisfying.

Fourth, it provides the essential glue for when the going gets tough.  And it always does get tough at some point.  In my experience the vision provides the glue by encouraging a sense of team spirit, holding out the promise of a better future… a future that uniquely yours… a future that’s believable and attractive… a future that’s worth sticking around for.

We’ll look at part 3 – the Profile of an Effective Vision – tomorrow.