Vision

Vision is one of those overused words in management. It is a basic element of leadership. It is a question asked of any new leader. It spans corporate, nonprofit and governmental environments.

So do we really understand what is meant by vision. We hear comments like, "She is a visionary leader." But what does that mean.

Sometimes we confuse vision with change. Simply because a leader brings change does not mean that he or she has vision. Sometimes change is good and sometimes it is bad. Vision has to do with how the organization or entity will look in the future. It may involve a great deal of change or little change.

To be effective, the vision must be understood and owned by the key stakeholders in the organization. If it is only the leader's vision, it will fail.

In order to be shared, it must be clearly articulated. A vivid picture must be painted so that people can grasp and evaluate, and ultimately reject or embrace the future described in the vision.

And, the vision must align with the purpose or mission of the organization and meet needs of customers whom the organization serves. Otherwise, it is likely to be only a dream of the leader and may be destined to turn into a nightmare.

So, vision is a clearly defined and articulated picture of the future that is shared by the key organizational stakeholders, aligns with the organization's mission, and meets needs of the organization's customers.

When there is a well crafted, shared vision, it is very powerful and deserves the attention that it has received. It becomes the guiding light for the organization.