Does Your Business Have a Vision?

As the leader of your business, if I asked you what the Vision for your company was, you could probably give me a pretty good idea. However, if you sat down with your team individually and asked them what your company’s Vision was, would you get the same answer?

What is Vision?

According to EOS creator Gino Wickman, Vision is “clearly defining who and what your organization is, where it’s going, and how it’s going to get there.” Most entrepreneurs and business leaders don’t have a problem identifying their vision – the challenge is getting everyone on the leadership team 100% aligned and on the same page. Once everyone in the organization sees that same vision, internalizes it and wants to be a part of it, you will have a strong, consistent vision that ensures your business sees success.

The first step is to answer these eight (8) questions:

1. What are your core values?
2. What is your core focus?
3. What is your marketing strategy?
4. What is your 1-year plan?
5. What is your 3-year picture?
6. What is your 10-year target?
7. What are your quarterly Rocks?
8. What are your issues?

The Process of Gaining Traction Starts With Vision

While a majority of entrepreneurs have a clear vision for their business, if they don’t openly and consistently communicate their vision to their employees, it can cause failures within your company. As the leader, this will leave you frustrated and the staff confused or upset. Make sure your team has a distinct understanding of your vision by:

1. Getting your vision out of your head and onto paper. By working with your leadership team to answer the eight questions, you will get everyone on your team on the same page. As your EOS Implementer, I will work with you and your leadership team to get all those different visions out of your heads and into one common vision that you can all share. Once your leadership team is 100% aligned and your vision is crystal clear, you can communicate it to the rest of the team.
2. Presenting your vision with the members of your organization. It takes 7 times for someone to “get” something, remember it, and consider it regularly. It’s important to not just share your vision once but on a regular and consistent basis. This allows your employees to see where you want the company to go and determine how they can help you achieve that vision
3. Letting go. Now it’s time to empower your team. Your vision is not just about you, it defines something bigger. It’s not just you as the leader who will make it happen, it’s every person on your team. Everybody in the company will help you achieve this vision, you just need everybody “rowing in the same direction.” In order for this to happen, it’s crucial to consistently share your vision. Reiterate, delegate, and set expectations. Trust your team and yourself to do the right things to help you achieve your vision.

Don’t Be Afraid of a Challenge

If you want your team to become invested in your company’s Vision, allow them to ask questions or challenge you. They can provide a new perspective, potentially seeing an issue that you didn’t, which can motivate them to be more committed to solving and working on the Vision. As you share your vision each quarter, ask your staff what questions they have and show them how to develop their rocks (big initiatives) and measurables (weekly goals) to help the company achieve the vision. Once you clarify your Vision, you can get to work on making sure all your people, processes, and systems are designed to focus on helping you achieve it.

Does your business have a strong Vision? Does your team fully understand and support your Vision? Has your team internalized it and agreed to be a part of it? If you’re ready to learn how EOS tools like the Vision/Traction Organizer can help you take your business to the next level, schedule a free, 90-minute session with me to get started!