Wait, you haven’t created a vision for yourself? Let’s first start off with why it’s important to have a vision. A vision helps guide you. It helps you gain focus and sets the stage for where you want to go and the impact you want to have sometime in the future. In essence it represents who you are and the ambitions you’ve identified for yourself. It also helps measure your progress by identifying the key decisions and actions you will take to fulfill that vision every day. Joel Barker, Author and Film Maker was quoted as saying; “Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.”
It’s important to have clarity on what you want to accomplish. If you get lost in the tactical, day-to-day you can easily lose sight of what’s most important to you. A vision can help identify when you are off track. Without a clear idea of where you want to go next, it’s impossible to know when something gets in the way of achieving your goal. As such, a vision statement is a forward looking statement of where you see yourself, sometime in the future and what you hope to achieve. Ultimately a vision helps define you and the life you want to lead. Wow, great stuff right. But if it’s so important, why doesn’t everyone have one? I find people move at such a fast pace, focused on the here and now that they often times don’t slow down and reflect on what truly matters. There is a lot of action going on but the question is if this activity will lead you to where you want to go next. So let’s go about setting your vision.
I use a simple visioning exercise with my clients on where they see themselves at some point in the future. I like them to think ten years out but it may be longer or shorter depending on where you are in your career. Put yourself in the future and think about what your life will look like. This is a play on the old question, what do you want written on your tombstone. However I like to think about something that will guide your behavior today versus how you will be remembered.
Questions for you to consider include:
+ What kind of influence will I have in the organization, the community, the world?
+ What do I want to be doing or what types of things will I be doing in ten years?
+ How will I add value or make an impact long-term?
+ What is most fulfilling for me?
+ How can I do more of what I love every day?
+ What are the things that take my breath away, i.e. that would be thrilling if I could achieve them?
In an earlier blog on how leaders define success, I asked what you would do if money were no object. Take a look at this blog and see if this changes or alters your thinking on the vision you are creating for yourself.
Take a moment and write your vision statement. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or complicated. In fact, it should be a single sentence that is motivational and captures the aspirations you have for yourself. And remember it should be forward looking of where you see yourself longer term!
What is your vision for yourself and how can you fulfill your dreams and make them a reality?
Sage Alliance, a Leadership Performance Company, provides coaching, teambuilding and assessments, workshops and speaking on topics including; leadership development, empowering teams, communications, lasting impressions, personal branding and building a coaching culture for executives and high-potentials – for both team and individual leaders.
Contact us today to discover how your organization can get the most through improved productivity, efficiency and direct impact to your bottom line, while leaders gain powerful insight, crystallize opportunities for growth and fine tune their strengths, enabling them to make the greatest impact. You can contact Shelley Hammell directly at shammell@thesagealliance.com.
