Regardless of industry or expertise, having a shared vision is key to a successful team and culture. But for a vision to serve its true intent, it must be ingrained in every member of an organization. The question, then, is how do you create a shared vision with buy-in at every level of your business? Here are a few of our top tips:
Define your purpose
Start by articulating your organization’s purpose, including why you exist and what value you provide to end users. Use this purpose as a guide for defining a vision that your team can believe in and feel a part of.
Identify an end goal
Building on your purpose, determine what you want to accomplish through your vision. Is it increased sales? Improved customer service? Better employee retention? Defining an objective gives your team something to work toward and establishes a clear direction for their efforts, performance and growth.
Engage key stakeholders
For your team to develop trust in your vision, they need to feel involved. Bring them along through the development process. It’s important to capture diverse perspectives from all levels of your organization to ensure your vision captures the full spectrum of your team’s interests and priorities. Continuously solicit and incorporate feedback to make your vision stronger. This co-creation will make your team more invested, which will be reflected in how they show up every day.
Lead by example
Now that you’ve talked the talk with your team, you need to walk the walk for them, too. As a leader within your organization, you play a critical role in championing your vision and embodying its outlined behaviors. Acting as a role model who practices what you preach will build trust with your team and inspire them to imitate your example.
Continue to evolve
A pitfall we often see organizations encounter when it comes to visioning is taking a one-time-fits-all approach. There’s no doubt your business, team and culture will evolve over time—it’s natural and necessary—so you can’t create a static vision and expect it to hold up indefinitely. Instead, let your vision transform as your organization does, and constantly review and reassess its alignment with your values to ensure it remains a driving force for your team’s performance.
To maximize your team’s capability, everyone must be working toward the same goal. A shared vision can foster this sense of community and mutual ambition to propel your organization forward, but it takes time, dedication and diligence to create and maintain. For guidance on developing messaging that resonates, connect with us today.