How many loyal workers go about their business but have no idea why they do what they do? The gnomes themselves do not understand their own business plan, or why they steal underpants. This is identical to a business where team members do not understand the vision or how to contribute to it. That business will never move to the next inflection point.
Related article: Creating Strong Leadership
Do you know your company vision? Do your team members know it? Do they feel emotional about it?
The answer to those three questions can stall a company’s ability to create a Smart Clan and stunt their growth at the current inflection point. When we do a Cultural Assessment at a company, often the first questions we ask each of the interviewees are about the company vision and their alignment with it. We’re not looking to see if the vision is almighty and powerful. We’re looking to see if there is one at all, if people can articulate it in their own words, and if they are engaged by it. We’re looking for clarity. It’s that simple . . . and yet that difficult.
The 3 Types of Clarity
Clarity is crucial in both vision and communication. Clarity can also be an act of omission—what we choose to be explicit and implicit about. This choice sets up the person we’re interacting with to succeed or struggle—and sometimes this person is oneself.
Being clear is essential to leading. When we’re clear we feel aligned and energized, and our team feels motivated because they have explicitly stated expectations. So why is being clear sometimes hard? Because being truly clear means we need to take the time to discover what we need, to articulate it clearly, and to be sure the other party understood our communication.
The meaning of the communication is what the other party understood, not what you said, or intended to say, or “really meant.” You are responsible for making sure that the receiver understood, and if they didn’t, to try, try again.
Clarity has three domains:
Clarity of our words (saying what we truly mean or expressing what we truly need)
Clarity of our vision and plan (where we are now, where we want to go, and how we are going to get there)
Clarity of our intentions and energy (embodying and modelling the outcomes we want for our team)
Clarity of Our Vision and Plan
An MBA is optional, but a GSD (Get Stuff Done) is essential. To ensure you reach the next inflection point it helps to make your brand = results. Mastering the skill of clarity in terms of communicating your vision and plan is crucial so your team will know where you are now, where you want to go, and how you plan to get there.
To take this a step further, a clear mission, vision, and values statement will grab hold of your team’s emotions and provide motivation to excel.
Need some clarity of vision? Contact us to help you re-look at your company Vision, Mission and Values
*Originally seen on Forbes.com
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