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.
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Four Basics of Leadership
While leadership is very complex in so respects, in my experience there are a some basics things that have to be in place and must be priorities for leaders.
1. You have to have a shared vision of where you are going. It cannot just be the vision of the leader. It has to be shared by the key players in the organization. Without shared vision you simply have activity.
2. You have to have the right people in the right roles. If you do not have the right people in key roles, the leader becomes overwhelmed trying to make sure the basics get done. It does not matter if you are the CEO or a department supervisor, you have to have the right people in the right roles.
3. You have to have processes in place that allow you to accomplish the work of the organization and achieve the vision. Once you have a clear shared vision and the right people in the right roles, a leader can spend time refining and improving how the work is done.
4. You have to develop a supportive and positive culture. If you have a shared vision, the right people in the right roles and are focused on improving, you probably will have a healthy culture. But a leader must constantly monitor and assure that things do not come in from the environment and poison the culture.
Now of course, anyone who has ever been a leader knows that it is not always easy to achieve these things, but at its core, this is what leadership is about—a shared vision, right people in the right roles, continual improvement of processes and a positive culture.
1. You have to have a shared vision of where you are going. It cannot just be the vision of the leader. It has to be shared by the key players in the organization. Without shared vision you simply have activity.
2. You have to have the right people in the right roles. If you do not have the right people in key roles, the leader becomes overwhelmed trying to make sure the basics get done. It does not matter if you are the CEO or a department supervisor, you have to have the right people in the right roles.
3. You have to have processes in place that allow you to accomplish the work of the organization and achieve the vision. Once you have a clear shared vision and the right people in the right roles, a leader can spend time refining and improving how the work is done.
4. You have to develop a supportive and positive culture. If you have a shared vision, the right people in the right roles and are focused on improving, you probably will have a healthy culture. But a leader must constantly monitor and assure that things do not come in from the environment and poison the culture.
Now of course, anyone who has ever been a leader knows that it is not always easy to achieve these things, but at its core, this is what leadership is about—a shared vision, right people in the right roles, continual improvement of processes and a positive culture.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Solutions
Is it ironic that the first post on this blog comes on the the day that GM files for bankruptcy? Wow, do we need solutions!
This blog is focused on exploring solutions related to management, leadership, communication, organization, quality, customer service, strategy and entrepreneurship.
The lessons learned should be applicable in any environment--from large corporations like GM to small mom and pops. And yes, entrepreneurship is applicable in large companies like GM! They also apply beyond business to volunteer organizations, religious organizations, schools and of course government.
I personally have had the opportunity to work in both large bureaucratic organizations and start ups. I have had the privilege of working with entrepreneurs as a principal in a seed investment firm. I have learned as a staff person and sat in the CEO chair. And I have trained and consulted with organizations from healthcare to manufacturing. My graduate studies were in organizational communication and I have taught organizational behavior and strategy at the MBA level.
Experience on a foundation of theory can be a powerful teacher, but I by no means begin to have all the answers. I have, however, learned a lot of the questions to ask.
Join me in this exploration, add your questions to mine, and let's learn together.
This blog is focused on exploring solutions related to management, leadership, communication, organization, quality, customer service, strategy and entrepreneurship.
The lessons learned should be applicable in any environment--from large corporations like GM to small mom and pops. And yes, entrepreneurship is applicable in large companies like GM! They also apply beyond business to volunteer organizations, religious organizations, schools and of course government.
I personally have had the opportunity to work in both large bureaucratic organizations and start ups. I have had the privilege of working with entrepreneurs as a principal in a seed investment firm. I have learned as a staff person and sat in the CEO chair. And I have trained and consulted with organizations from healthcare to manufacturing. My graduate studies were in organizational communication and I have taught organizational behavior and strategy at the MBA level.
Experience on a foundation of theory can be a powerful teacher, but I by no means begin to have all the answers. I have, however, learned a lot of the questions to ask.
Join me in this exploration, add your questions to mine, and let's learn together.
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