Creating a shared vision

Colleagues,

Yesterday I turned a critical eye on the notion of vision and asserted that an organization’s vision should be a reflection of the organization’s purpose and people.
 
Creating a shared vision is not always simple. A vision really begins with dreams, and a group of people need four conditions to be able to dream:
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1. Safety. This is best achieved by creating a community in which people can:
   1. take risks
   2. share divergent thinking
   3. trust each other
2. Space.
   1. A physical space to gather together
   2. Mental space to think and reflect
   3. Emotional space to be authentic
3. Permission to dream without the limitations of current realities
4. Perspectives. Shared knowledge, experiences, and values need to be identified. Alternative experiences and views need to be embraced and included.

 
Meeting these conditions lays the ground for developing a shared vision that works for the organization and its people. 
 
Leaders don’t create visions. They help people to clarify and articulate a shared vision.
 
Cheers!
 
Frederick