First a quote: “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality .” – Warren Bennis
In my line of work, I’m frequently asked to help individuals and leadership teams identify, and clarify, their visions of the future. It is never a simple task and can feel overwhelming. Many people are intimidated by the process, and it is easy to understand why.
In some ways, it may feel arrogant to assume that our own crystal ball is so much clearer than that of others. It might seem presumptuous to think we can see around blind corners at what might lie ahead on our path into the future. We may ask ourselves, “What makes my view of the future so special and unique?” And, for many, describing a future that is rosier than our current reality can feel very risky when we “put ourselves out there.”
For many, it also seems like the world is full of skeptics and cynics who thrive on pointing out why our vision of a better future will never come true.
And yet, creating a vision of the future is quite simple. In fact, most of us are creating visions of the future all the time. We just don’t label our thoughts about the future as “visions.” Think about these examples:
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You’re planning a dinner party for next month. As you think about the upcoming event, you imagine the meal you will serve, perhaps the games you will play, the laughs people will have, and perhaps even memories that will be made. Bottom line, you have created a vision for that party.
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You’re interviewing for a new job or position in your company and the interviewer asks, “Where do you see yourself in five years.” Your answer, in essence, is a vision statement.
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You and your spouse, or partner, are planning a “dream vacation” from your bucket list. You can feel the warmth of the sun on a white sandy beach; you can describe the sites you will see, the adventures you will discover, the feelings you will share, and the memories you will create. You have a vision of what that dream vacation will be like.
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You’re dreaming about starting your own business. You can almost imagine the customers you will serve and the products or services you will sell. You have a vision of doing something you’re passionate about.
In workshops on this topic, I describe a vision as being nothing more than, “Your view of a more preferable set of circumstances, at some point in the future, described in words.”
In my mind, if we see ourselves as leaders, then by definition we are leading people, teams, and/or organizations, somewhere else – somewhere that is not here. Leadership is about change. The question becomes, change in what? A vision should help organizations answer that question.
Have you ever put together a 1,500-piece puzzle? Try to imagine for a minute, how difficult it would be to put together a large puzzle without a picture of what you’re working to create.
For many people, looking ahead in life can feel very much like looking at an unassembled box of puzzle pieces: complex, overwhelming, intimidating, and even daunting. For many, that scrambled mess can create a sense of hopelessness about the future.
The picture on the box, however, provides us with a “vision” of what success will look like. That picture helps us “make sense” out of a box full of scrambled pieces.
Just like in real life, that “picture on the box” helps us work together as a team. It helps us delegate responsibilities and increases personal accountability.
For example, when collaborating on a puzzle, one person might work on the blue sky in the upper left-hand corner, someone else might work on the clouds in the upper right-hand corner and yet another person might work on the field of red flowers near the bottom.
“The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” – Helen Keller
That “vision” also provides a team with perspective, provides priorities and a measure of our progress. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate our progress. Oh, how satisfying it is to complete that field of red flowers!
My additional thoughts on this topic:
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An effective vision “speaks” to both heads and hearts – The best vision statements will appeal to both the logical and emotional components of a person’s thinking.
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Provides people with a sense of hope – If a person doesn’t have faith, or hope, that tomorrow will be better, they give up power in the present.
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Visions are intended to inspire action – Getting people out of their “comfort zones” and willing to adventure out into the unknown will always be a challenge.
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Visions provide people with a sense of purpose – Effective visions go way beyond profits and stock values. Now more than ever, people desire to be a part of meaningful work that contributes to making the world a better place.
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Visions help drive meaningful goals and actions – Yogi Berra once said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.” Where are you leading your life or team?
My “power question” for you to ponder this week is, “If some aspect (job, relationships, friendships, etc.) of your world were perfect, what would it look like?” If you can answer that question, you’ll know what your priorities are for the week ahead.
Related Articles:
Bonus quotes below.
How will you live, love, or lead, differently, or better, this coming week?
Bryan Yager
“Expanding Your Capacity for Success”
Bonus Quotes:
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“If you keep going where you’re going, you’ll end up where you’re headed.” – Chinese Proverb
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“It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream.” – Benjamin E Mays
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“You can start changing our world for the better daily, no matter how small the action.” – Nelson Mandela
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“When it rains look for rainbows, when it’s dark look for stars.” – Unknown
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“Vision is the art of seeing what is invisible to others. ” – Jonathon Swift
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“In order to carry a positive action, we must develop here a positive vision. ” – Dalai Lama
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“Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion. ” – Bill Hybels
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“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. ” – Henry David Thoreau
