Sammy Fox wanted to inspire his team, to motivate them, so he settled on the idea of communicating a compelling vision. Yet, when he told them the vision they didn’t really care. It didn’t matter to them. There was no impact. How can you avoid this?
ONE. First of all, your team needs to believe you. Over time, as a leader, you need to foster a climate of trust and credibility with your team. You need to develop a positive relationship with them. An optimistic viewpoint, consistency, fairness, fun, support and demonstrating your knowledge without always having to be right are excellent ingredients for creating this.
TWO. Then there is the vision itself. What does it need to be? A positive picture is always more inspiring than a negative one. Be careful, though, a polyanna view can be unaccepted and uninspiring. A vision that involves the greater good, that is bigger than the bottom line, is generally most inspiring.
THREE. Be clear that the vision will not be achieved in a day, and possibly in a year. It could take some time. Part of the vision can be the timeframe of when it is expected to be accomplished. This in itself can be a motivating force.
FOUR. Keep it simple. A complex vision will be hard to grasp and remember. It will not be easy for people to get behind it. So, don’t get caught in the need to capture every detail – the web of complexity: keep it simple. Sometimes one word is effective: $1 Billion (in sales).
FIVE. Finally, be sure the team understand how it benefits them. Does it fit in with their values and goals and what they want to achieve in the world? Will it give them more interesting work and opportunities? Answer the question for them of “What’s in it for me?”
Using these tips, Sammy developed a successful, motivating vision, and spurred his team to greater heights. If you need more guidance, don’t hesitate to contact us. And let us know your stories of how this blog helped you to develop an effective vision – we look forward to your success stories.
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Partners Creating Growth works with companies to realize their profitable opportunities. We have considerable experience in generating and selecting innovative ideas; developing and commercializing new products; and connecting to new markets. We offer coaching, strategic planning, market research and financing expertise worldwide to help organizations grow & disadvantaged regions thrive. Contact Tove Rasmussen @ 617-615-6419 or 207-409-7576 Email: Tove@PartnersCreatingGrowth.com
Photo credit: Nepal Schools Aid
