Is Vision a Team Sport? Part-1

Just like you, I’ve heard countless talks about vision. Volumes have been written on the topic and blogs buzz every day with seemingly “new ideas” about vision. Google the topic and you could spend the rest of your life reading the content that comes up. So why add to the noise? Because as I was looking through some notes the other day, I came across one of the most actionable and energizing talks I’ve heard about the aspect of team and vision (by Jeff Henderson) and I wanted to share some of the key ideas with you.

Jeff argued that in most organizations vision is reserved as the responsibility of the Point Leader. As a result, that’s why most organizations never reach their true potential. This limits everything and everyone in the organization, because vision cannot be sustained through only one person. It must be embraced and carried forward by everyone on the team.

1. Vision Casters are Vision Carriers & Vision Carriers are Vision Casters:

The long range impact of vision casting depends upon the number of people in the organization carrying the vision forward. The four words that limit the vision of any organization are “It’s not my job.”

2. There is a Scale of Buy-In:

The job of the team is to move people from Bucket #1 to Bucket #3

Bucket #1 People buy into the vision enough to benefit from it.

Bucket #2 People buy into the vision enough to contribute comfortably to it

Bucket #3 People buy into the vision enough to give their lives to it

3. Vision Casting is Not:

It’s not a one-time event

It’s not just giving out information. People need to be inspired not informed.

It’s not about getting people to listen. All organizations struggle with communication. We don’t think people listen. The problem is we have assumed they care.

Question:

How does your team carry and cast the vision of the organization?

Click here to read Part-2 of this post!