If we took that literally - it’s arguably one of the most important senses in a game of football ⚽️
We have a human psychological need to know WHERE we are going and HOW we will get there…..we’ll look at both of these today.
Without these needs being met, we have a lack of psychological ‘safety’ and this seriously impacts your costs through reduced productivity, poor retention, difficulties in hiring top talent and more.
Let’s start by breaking it down:
What is a Vision?
The definition of “vision” is essentially an idea of what the company will look like in the future.
It’s usually decided after an honest evaluation of where things are today and what your aspirations are for the long-term future 🔮
It’s supposed to be a stretch….almost unachievable but an exciting possibility.
It’s the thing that helps us make great decisions on what to do and how to do it in less time and with less stress.
Without it, how can you do that effectively 🤷🏼♀️
NB: If you have a lot of infighting between departments, I’d check they are all aligned on where the company is going and how they are getting there!!
Effective and consistent communication of the vision to your employees is perhaps the most crucial first step….and the one I see go missing or wrong on many occasions…..
It’s important to involve everyone it, whether they are new to the company, the first hire, or the 75th.
After all…
The best way to shape a company into your “ideal”, is to have everyone onboard heading in the same direction with passion and conviction 👊
And please remember, just because you told someone once, does not mean they will remember it….
Keep it alive, use it, talk about it…..
Visions and goals are intrinsically linked (hence why I’ve put them in the same email!), and you can’t have one without the other.
NB: Vision leads to the company strategy and then this gets broken down into individual goals/plans.
Let’s have a quick look goals….
Once you understand where things are heading for the company, you can begin to plot the trajectory for each individual professional within your organisation.
They are essential for humans to feel connected to the bigger purpose which sits next to the vision…
This provides the ‘WHY’ that goes with the ‘WHERE’….
Goals are the best way to achieve real, tangible progress that we can effectively and fairly reward, provide feedback on, and coach for improved performance……
Having the destination confirmed allows you to plan each stop along the way 🥅
The next question is….
How do you get each person to meet their goals?
The best way is to make sure they are SMARTIE
(It’s like SMART but adds in the necessary Inspirational and Emotional elements of goal setting that drive performance far better than just numbers or tasks ever will).
This then leads to intrinsic motivation.
This is far harder to achieve if the company's goals and vision of the future don’t align with your employee's goals/motives and values.
And, you won’t know what they are until you start sitting down in those 121s and asking the questions…..
Which takes us to another rabbit warren….
🔆 How are you at coaching?
🔆 Have you ever learned how to?
🔆 Do you know why it’s THE most effective style of leadership you can use?
If you’re looking to be a better leader, or you're new to the role and want to get it right, make sure you stay tuned for the next 3 deep dives into employee needs.
You won’t want to miss out 🎁
Need help now, want to learn more about SMARTIE goal setting, or ready to explore coaching and development for yourself or your leadership team?
Get in touch for your no-strings 30-minute discovery session and let’s plan to make your 2025 an absolute corker 🤩
We're ready when you are.