Do You Have 20/20 Vision?
I work with the Board of Directors of a non-profit organization that teaches inner-city kids to sing; it's a well-established children's choir. I helped this group define their vision. It may sound like an easy job. After all, the mission was simply stated: to teach children the joy of singing and introduce them to musical experiences they would not have in their daily environment. First, they need singers, then they need people to work with the singers and finally they need places to sing. It seems simple enough.
The problem was they lacked a common vision or direction. They did not know where they were headed, so as requests came to the group either from the community or from parents, they did not know how to respond. They lacked resources because they did not have a clear picture of what they wanted to achieve.
| A scenario or strategic story is a method to present alternative images of the future in order to plan for the future |
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We set about creating a vision by helping the group clarify what they wanted to accomplish in the next three years. Then we set objectives and chose people to work on those objectives. With the pull of future plans, the group was energized.
It's the same for any leader in any industry. The biggest motivator a leader has is the ability to communicate a coherent vision. This is a powerful way to lead. A vision allows an organization a guide to make choices and decisions. While a leader must develop a vision this does not mean every leader needs to be a "visionary." Leaders need to develop a competence at developing visions but the entire task of mapping out the future does not need to rest with them.
One technique that works for leaders to develop a vision is to create a "scenario." A scenario or strategic story is a method to present alternative images of the future in order to plan for the future. For example, a business might look at several ways to make more money. In one scenario, the company decides that they will hire more sales staff. In another scenario, they might think about merging with an organization that offers a complimentary service. And in yet another scenario the organization might decide to grow one small aspect of their business and become specialists in that arena.
It does not much matter the direction the stories take. The exercise allows the organization to free itself to think about the most general issues facing the group; it allows the leaders to question their broadest assumptions about the way they operate. And, interestingly, the research says that it is not the actual execution of the scenario that is important but mentally thinking through various options.
Once the leaders have signed on to a shared vision it is easy to break it down into achievable steps. The whole group will have new energy and commitment to their shared vision as the group moves ahead.
Leadership Solutions can help guide you through creating a vision for your organization or team. And the results will speak for themselves. Back at the choir, the vision they created has helped to expand their services, decreased their reliance on volunteers, and successfully increased revenue through grants and fundraising. Let us help you create a vision that can keep your group singing joyfully.
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