Write it Down and Share it With Others!

It is the responsibility of a leader to help teams envision a clear purpose and path for success. Preparing and communicating a vision helps show others how a business initiative or plan serves everyone. When your teams understand the direction and see bearing and benefit for themselves as well as for the greater good of the company, they are more likely to buy in, engage, and come up with ideas on their own.

A leader must be able to express his or her vision clearly and in a compelling manner so that others are engaged by it. Only if people grasp the vision can they commit to it, and buy-in is crucial to motivating action. A vision should be an inspiring proclamation of what is to become and what needs to be achieved at some point in the future.

This way, team members are more supportive and know where their focus needs to be. Being aware of the company’s direction and how it’s faring is empowering.

Ineffective or poor communication is frustrating for employees, and it becomes a source of a conflict. Managers’ inability to clearly express their thoughts, ideas and demands leads to employees’ inability to perform well. In contrast, if a leader is able to communicate their ideas clearly, so that employees definitely know what is asked of them, they will perform their jobs correspondingly.

Writing down a vision is is a way to focus your and your team’s energy, actions, behaviors and decisions. Committing a vision statement to writing helps make it more urgent and front of mind. To be effective, a vision must motivate employees. And to motivate employees, a vision might be expressed in stirring tones. Use positive, provocative language, and make it clear and compelling. There is no length requirement for a vision statement; however, if you keep it simple and somewhat brief, it will be memorable. Use the Who, What, Where, Why, How, When vision formula below.

The Business Vision Formula
• WHO are we?
• WHAT do we want to become?
• WHERE are we now?
• WHY are we going down this path?
• HOW will we get there?
• WHEN will we get there?

More L.I.F.E Tips for Sharing a Vision with Others
• Anchor it to the overall direction and objectives of the company.
• Show what is possible by giving examples.
• Encourage others to openly express thoughts and feelings about the change.
• Show the benefits to the person, organization, department, customer, etc.
• Educate people on the expected changes and benefits.
• Post the vision in common areas.
• Communicate clearly and often.
• Celebrate milestones of achievement.

“Effective visions provide context, give purpose, and establish meaning. They inspire people to mobilize, to act, to move in the same direction… Every good leader realizes that effective visions cannot be forced upon the masses. Rather they must be set in motion by means of persuasion and inspiration.”
– Martin Luther King Jr.

If you want to learn more about how to create a clear compelling vision and increase buy-in,
join our webinar on August 25th.