Strategic-Planning
Vision Getting Dim?
A recent conversation started with a typical question, ?How?s business?? The reply was equally typical and prefaced by a sigh, ?You know (another sigh), same old / same old.?
Clearly the person responding has ?VCD? or ?Vision Challenge Disorder.? VCD happens when the vigor goes out of the company vision like air going out of a balloon. Maybe the original vision has been reached and the business is just coasting, maintaining the status quo, marching in place. The overall energy and focus of the organization has shifted from taking initiative and towards the security of sameness and "playing defense."
With no vision to focus on and no challenges to face, the staff gets frustrated. They flounder because there is no guiding direction to align their performance expectations; the business stagnates ? ?You know (sigh), same old / same old.? This stultifying attitude can be the beginning of the feared slippery slope ending ultimately in the demise of the business.
When VCD rears its ugly head it is time to reevaluate the company and its core foundational elements. Is the vision exciting, expansive, and energizing? If you look at the two previous sentences and yawn, your company has a VCD problem ? ?you know (sigh), same old / same old.?
Here is a four-step process to insure you don?t let Vision Challenge Disorder enter your company.
1) See if your Vision for the company is still relevant ? if you don?t have a Vision written out, that?s a different, but no less important, problem.
2) Discover if your staff is aware of the Vision and if they believe it is still relevant.
3) Review your Vision, clarify it if it is indistinct, modify it as needed
4) Work on making that Vision your reality ? implement, implement, implement!
When the Vision is well articulated and integrated into weekly, monthly and yearly goals, the company will reenergize and look towards the future with enthusiasm, optimism and a renewed sense of purpose. Your clients will feel it, your competitors will fear it so dust off your Vision, polish it and enjoy your future.
Larry Galler coaches and consults with high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses since 1993. He is the writer of the long-running (every Sunday since November 2001) business column, "Front Lines with Larry Galler" Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.larrygaller.com
Larry Galler
Tags: Vision, future, attitude, energize, focusSimilar articles
Titanic Precautions
Many movies have been made about the tragic story of the Titanic. Arrogance and ignorance was definitely present during its maiden voyage, which was Titanic? Read more →Transfer Pricing
Transfer pricing is a complicated issue, but worth understanding on at least a basic level if you work at all with multinational corporations. The price at which one unit of a firm sells goods or services to another unit of the same firm. Read more →Vision Statements that Confuse and Bemuse
Since the 1970's vision statements have adorned the walls of most organisations, being used to communicate the direction in which an organisation is heading. Read more →What Is Your Business Strategy?
Unfortunately too many small businesses never think about strategic panning, just getting through today seems to be the goal. There are times when this is the right thing to do, but if you never take time out to manage where your business is going, and how you will take it forward; you will always follow the competition. Read more →Aphorism
Most investors ... will find that the best way to own common stocks is through an index fund that charges minimal fees. Those following this path are sure to beat the net results (after fees and expenses) delivered by the great majority of investment prof
Warren Buffett