Grounds for a Vision

To lead others requires that one enlist the emotions of others to share a vision as their own.
-Henry M. Boettinger, retired Director of Corporate Planning, AT&T-

First and foremost, one of the most important products of an effective team is a vision. In order for a team to really work well together, it’s necessary to create a common image of the ideal outcome. Much like a blueprint for the construction of a building, a team’s vision provides guidance to its members as they plan the appropriate steps to pursue their goal. The team’s vision is saturated in values that add meaning and purpose to the team’s work together. Typically, it encompasses the product we are going to produce together and the process we’ll go through together. Engrained in our vision are our operating norms and commitments to one another and to the stakeholders of our team’s efforts.

Our vision is a step into our collective future because it’s a potential product in the making, and it’s built upon hope and hard work. It’s an ideal made to inspire others to input their best effort, and it’s a vehicle to raise the bar of the quality of product the team will produce.

According to Burt Nanus, author of Visionary Leadership, the following forces are unleashed when a successful vision is present:

• It attracts commitment and energizes people.
• It creates meaning in worker’s lives.
• It establishes a standard of excellence.
• It bridges the present and the past.

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In the next two blogs, I will explore the concept of “team vision” even further. First, I will explore the common forces that hinder the creation of a vision, and secondly, I will share some tips on how to establish an effective, successful vision.