Once you’ve answered the four questions (see the previous post) it’s time to consider the four components of an effective vision statement. Define your customers. Even the most gigantic businesses have a defined customer base. Walmart sells clothing but their target customer is not the same customer as those who shop at Neiman Marcus. Define...

I had been hired by the tourism department of a large Native American Tribal government to help them develop a strategic plan. They had a largish budget and had raised the visibility of tribal lands and attractions but there was no rhyme or reason. They engaged public relations firms and bought airtimes and ads on...

  The vision you and/or your company or organization have articulated sets up the target. How you get there is up to those in positions of leadership and management. However, it is not entirely up to you. It requires the agreement, cooperation, and participation of everyone. The vision will not create itself. What is done...

I’m filling in my by-now-famous diagram from the wrong end. Actually it’s the right end, but since all the words are on the right side, it is technically backwards. And I’ve done so for a reason. Vision is a forward look, an articulation of what the future should be. That’s relatively easy. The challenge is...

"The best way to predict the future is to create it." Peter Drucker Vision, as I have defined, illustrated, explained, and elaborated upon is the number one critical component of an effective leadership dynamic if, and I mean a big IF, IF it is coupled with decisive deliberate intelligent relevant action. Way back in the...

I’m almost ready to move on to the next blank in my diagram, but there’s one more thing I want to say about vision. As you may remember, the tag line of my business as The Practical Leader is to Extend YOUR Reach Multiply YOUR Effectiveness Divide YOUR work There is a reason why I...

Does your right hand know what your left hand is doing and why it is doing it? In assisting organizations, businesses, and individuals in developing and implementing an effective vision one of my first questions is what is your vision for this company? After hearing their definition, I will ask the department heads, the associates...

Vision can be qualified easily enough, but I think it is a mistake to quantify it. Let’s go back to Lowe’s vision statement, one I referred to in earlier posts in this series: We will provide customer-valued solutions with the best prices, products, and services to make Lowe's the first choice for home improvement. There...

We are caught in tension between our human inclination to be faithful to products, forms, systems, methodologies, practices, and procedures that we have inherited and our constituents increasing lack of response to them. There are some benefits that result from using familiar forms. They are comfortable. Like that pair of jeans and that old tee-shirt,...

Ours was a great idea. As residents and business owners in the Caribbean we had identified a niche market and determined to fill it. We formed a business partnership for a small manufacturing company. For a short time it went ok. Then we processed our first large order and delivered the product. The client telephoned...