If you were Magnificent
The problem with many leaders is they’re goal driven. Goals are great but they don’t last. Worse yet, goals don’t create magnificent unified communities that maximize your potential.
I didn’t get a vision for having vision until about three years ago. Before then my life was filled with short term goals and once-and-done activities.
Conversations with Ken Blanchard and Jesse Stoner taught me vision exceeds goals like paintings exceed brush strokes. Individual splashes of color dramatically fill blank canvas. However, meaning requires completed paintings.
Monday evening, Jesse explained to me the four components of meaningful vision. Yesterday I posted the first two.
- Noble purpose.
- Shared values.
- A powerful picture. What does the dream look like? You don’t have a vision until you can describe it. Jesse asked, “If we were magnificent, what would we look like? What does the community look like when it’s fulfilling the dream?”
You have vision when you’re
captured by your magnificence.Not self-centered, self-serving magnificence. “Enriching the world” magnificence.
- Purposeful place. What’s your role in the greater whole? Powerful pictures require individual splashes of color. Where’s your splash?
You have vision when you’re in the picture.
Jesse put it this way, “There are no passive passengers on the bus, everyone participates. Actually, others drive the bus.”
Warning!
It sounds easy but crafting vision is highly focused, hard work. You won’t get there by accident.
On the wall at Smithsonian Freer Gallery of Art in Washington DC hangs a painting by Thomas Dewing, “Girl with Lute. It’s my favorite painting in the world. The unifying effect of individual splashes of color takes my breath away.
Taken as a whole, noble purpose, shared values, powerful picture, and captivating place enable breath taking magnificence.
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How can individuals and leaders create and communicate meaningful vision?
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Blanchard and Stoner’s book, “Full Steam Ahead” is one of my favorite books.
Dan – this post is very timely in that I am currently coaching a client around goals. Your thoughts bring a broader perspective that must be incorporated. Goals must serve, not be served.
Thanks!
Excellent post. All journeys must have a destination. There is little point in having goals if they do not lead you to somewhere better; somewhere you desire to be.
I am reminded of this famous quote from the Good Book:
“Without vision, the people perish.”
Great article!
Scott, I love the phrase “Goals must serve, not be served.” Carthage, how true about needing to go somewhere better. A vision that “dares to be mediocre” is hardly inspiring.
How can individuals and leaders create and communicate meaningful vision?
I suppose citing this essay is a bit afield of the direct meaning of your question and this post, but it is what came to mind when I read it. In the post, Jen Boyer writes about her childhood dream of being a helicopter pilot and how life events conspired to blur that vision.
It kept speaking to her over the years…and she eventually achieved her dream.
We should all consciously seek that inner voice and inner compass, as individuals as well as organizations. By doing so, we will be much more likely to align with meaningful vision.
http://workstew.com/2011/05/03/vertical-dreams/
“create and communicate” are two distinct skill sets and vital for leadership.
It may be that the creative element is often more enjoyable and it matches with farsightedness. Asking ‘what if’ or ‘what should be’ is essential.
However, sans messaging that touches heart and soul, that longer vision may be not be shared, might even be blurred. In the excitement of envisioning, leaders may not ‘see’ how vital the multi-layered, multi-directional communication is in making that vision reality. While the leader may repeatedly communicate their vision, what is translated from seeing to hearing to doing may take more time. Patience and pace play a part here.
In my work as a coach, and in my experience running a business, I found it surprising the number of people that saw no value in a larger vision. They were content on reacting to the short term (goals). Or, they thought the big goals they created was the same as creating vision.
Mostly what I found is that those same people had never experienced a compelling vision. I saw Bono four years ago talking about solving world hunger. He stated, “If every human being doesn’t find people starving to death a personal affront to their humanity, then there is something wrong!” What I noticed most was not only the passion and the energy, but the focus and clarity around next steps if not all steps.
How can individuals and leaders create and communicate meaningful vision? Meaningful vision is about meaningful experience. That is the biggest difference between goals and vision. Compelling vision will create a compelling experience which will create greater engagement and energy. The “how”, well…is this where I say, “Buy the book!”
Jim
Jim, I also wonder why so many people don’t understand the value of vision, or if they do, aren’t led by one. Our goal in writing the book was to take the mystery out of “the vision thing.” Thanks so much for sharing the quote by Bono – a powerful statement that underscores the imperative.
Well said Dan.
One thing I might add on the topic of vision: It has to be communicated frequently and consistently.
A colleague of mine once said “vision leaks,” meaning that a vision that is communicated once “leaks” from the mind of the listeners, and must be re-filled again and again. Leaders often seem to think that if they’ve said it once, their job is done. I believe that they should the job of communication like less of a check-box, and more like the task of keeping a leaky bucket full.
The communication of vision must be consistent over time, because an inconsistent vision sends people off in all directions, and makes the leader appear wishy-washy, flighty, or incompetent.
Well said, Tim! Max De Pree, legendary chairman of Herman Miller, said that in his visionary role he had to be like a third-grade teacher. He had to keep on saying it over and over and over again until people got it right, right, right!
Hi Dan
wow I love this post. I love the visualisation, and your sharing your favourite picture, and I love the metaphorical question – “Where is your splash of colour?”
I have worked with plenty of people onthier visions and this seems like a very clear and straightforward articulation of what is required. Enrinching the world magnificence is such a powerful question to put before someone. It has unsettled me a little and that is a sure sign it is the right question for me to ask myself (because i don’t have the answer).
I am stunned this post is not full of more people going YES! YES! YES!, this has shown me one of the keys to my purpose in life.
With blessing toyou and the Leadership Freak Comminuty
Richard
BTW Dan, awesome graphic on this post!
Dan,
I love the line in A Powerful Picture “What does the community look like when it’s fulfilling the dream?” I’ve always taught that the vision has to be so clear you can taste it, feel it, see yourself in it, but never included the community. This is very powerful.
That painting is wonderful. I would love to have it hanging in my home. Thank you for sharing.
Connie