“Would you tell me, please which way I ought to go from here?” she asked.. “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” was the reply. “I don’t much care where --” she said. “Then, it doesn’t matter which way you go.”

That excerpt comes from Alice in Wonderland. The scene is when Alice comes to a crossroads and discovers the Cheshire cat perched in a tree. It’s a poignant reminder that the path we take will determine our destination. Whether it’s the path that we are taking for ourselves, or the one we want to lead our organization on, it really does matter where we want to go.

Most companies have places they “want to go," typically, they may want to go towards..

# Increased sales
# Lower costs
# Enter new markets
# Improve bottom line performance

Most companies and leaders think that telling people where they are going is good enough, however the most important responsibility of a leader, is to shape and communicate his vision to everyone in the organization

A simple and understandable vision is essential since delegation to and empowerment of your people depend on a shared understanding of the organizational purpose. Most importantly, a vision must be “lived.” If your vision is not “lived” every day in every way, it will be hollow and empty. It will not empower anyone. In fact, it may do more harm than good.

Creating an effective vision is no simple task. A vision should be succinct, clear, and exciting. It should guide the organization and everyone in it while leaving wide latitude to pursue new opportunities.

So as Leaders there are actually two things we must do. We must create that Vision. In other words, we must determine where we are taking the organization. Then we must communicate it effectively so that everyone wants to get on board.

Vision / Vision Statement – Some Thoughts..

The vision is a statement of your company’s potential. It is a statement of what your company can become. When your vision is effectively communicated to all employees, it should provide a common focus and direction. Your vision should be concise and meaningful. It should be derived from examining your values and principles and what you want your company to be in the future.

Since your vision will guide your company into the future, it is critical that it is well crafted and meaningful to all your employees

An Effective and Compelling Vision will be..

# Based on an insightful analysis of the present situation facing the organization.
# A good choice from well-considered options.
# Appealing to those who work within the organization.
# A clear statement of the motivating force that drives the organization forward.
# Achievable.

To help you determine your Vision, some of the questions you can ask:

# What do you want your organization to look like in the future (next 3-5 years)?
# What is your organization especially good at?
# How are you doing competitively?
# What changes do you expect to see in the demand for your products or services over the next five years?
# What other organizations do you consider ahead of you?
# What do these more successful organizations have that you don’t?
# What do use to judge success and how well are you satisfied that you are measuring important criteria?

Please note that these are just some of the questions. There are many more to take into account such as your internal strengths and weaknesses, industry and cultural trends, competitor’s positions, etc.

Once you’ve determined your vision, there are six key elements needed to effectively communicate it. And get your people on board and committed.

# Keep it simple.
# Paint verbal pictures so people can visualize where they are going.
# Use multiple forums. Utilize big and small meetings, memos, articles, as well as formal and informal interactions.
# Incorporate repetition. Ideas sink in deeply only after they have been heard many times.
# Lead by example. Behavior must be consistent with the vision since we believe what we see more than what we hear.
# Give and take. Two-way communication is always more powerful than one-way communication. Listen and be listened to.

Vision – Some Common Mistakes..

The most common mistakes that companies make, with regard to their vision is that they; Fail to clearly articulate one; Fail to communicate it effectively.

Employees need to understand your expectations and receive your feedback. They need to understand the Vision and how their role-plays a part in it.

Today, as a leader, you must make sure that your team is aligned and certain that your employees are focused on accomplishing their goals, and that these goals support your vision.

My name is Dominick Borzomati with DWB Associates. We are Business Development Specialists and have been since 1993. We work with individuals committed to moving themselves and their businesses to the next level.

At DWB what we do is ALL about YOU...

Our programs focus 100% on YOU, they address YOUR needs, and concerns. They help YOU to clearly identify opportunities, enhance YOUR strengths, clarify YOUR market position and YOUR competitive capabilities and provide YOU with a clear and concise understanding as to where YOU are and where YOU need to go. Most importantly they provide YOU with a series a simple actionable steps that YOU can choose from that will enable YOU to move YOURSELF and YOUR business to the next level.

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