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How Are You Applying Your Vision?
Every thought leader and author has a vision for success; in fact, every successful business has a vision. Often times, energy and effort is spent debating, crafting and fine tuning the vision to ensure it is perfect. It’s integrated into the marketing and communication programs of the organization as well as the training and development of the employees. And then…? Well, typically it’s back to business – writing, speaking, finance, operations, sales, marketing, vendor management, technology, product development, customer service, etc.
What isn’t done effectively is applying the vision for success, which by definition is big picture and high level to day-to-day situations which are more specific and tactical in nature. Thought leaders and authors that can apply their well crafted vision to their day-to-day activities have a tremendous advantage. Integrating and applying a vision and using it as a guide helps them prioritize more effectively and keep their strategy, vision and objectives aligned.
A vision doesn’t serve you well, regardless of how brilliant or bold it may be, if you can’t use it as a lens or a filter to help you decide if doing A is a better option than doing B. It’s often as simple as asking yourself when faced with options and choices (which is what we are all faced with every moment of every day) which is a better choice relative to your vision.
A vision is a well articulated representation of where you want to go and what you will and won’t do to get there. Every day you’re either getting closer or further from achieving that vision. It happens as a result of making sure that what you are doing on an hourly or daily basis is helping you get to where you want to go. Use your vision as a tool to help you ensure that you are on that path. It may not be why you crafted your vision but it is actually a great way to bring it to life as a viable tool on a daily basis.
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Thank you Peter for a very insightful article. Sometimes those things explained simply make so much sense or maybe it was the right time for me to read this.
I’m very grateful for your wise advise.
Great post, Peter! I agree that it is easy to lose sight of the vision and get back to business as usual. I think your point about asking simple questions relative to your vision before making decisions is a great way to integrate the vision into daily business.
A wonderful reminder. Thanks!
Good thoughts and reminders, Peter. Reminds me of an article our President, Steve McKee, wrote recently on how a company’s vision is so closely tied to its value proposition:
http://mckeewallworkcleveland.com/blog/2012/10/from-vision-to-value-proposition/
–Emily Griebel, Integration Architect
McKee Wallwork Cleveand
@MWCemily
Leaders who aren’t emotionally connected to the vision are usually the ones who fail to execute.
Awesome read! If your not passionate about your services the evidence will show up in your performance. Business is personal and more than a notion!
A vision to make sense and not only show up in glossy brochures has to go far beyond what your company is doing in the present. This is true even for successful companies with a winning business model. The other forces don’t stand still requiring you to envision a winning position. To the pursuit of becoming operative this distance between present and future has to be bridged by initiatives. It’s like a puzzling, the first piece is a hard choice, but by arranging more pieces you begin to see the big picture. CLICK
Excellent post Peter. In regards thought leadership, I once wrote; Thought leadership is when a leader’s thoughts are being used by leaders to lead others. ~ Onyi Anyado.
“…making sure that what you are doing on an hourly or daily basis is helping you get to where you want to go.” Thank you Peter! This is what I needed to learn.
Brandon Bishop
Stepdadcoach.com