What is a Shared Vision?

So what makes a vision successful? Everyday companies try to create a vision that will lead them into the future but seldom does that vision ever impact the organization. The reason for this is that the vision is created by a few and never becomes a 'shared vision' of the entire organization.

Peter Senge, in his book "The Fifth Discipline" describes a shared vision as "? a force in people's hearts, a force of impressive power?.At its simplest level, a shared vision is the answer to the question, "What do we want to create?" " A shared vision is a picture that everyone in the company carries in their heads and hearts.

So what does a shared vision do for your company? It converts the company into 'our company'. It creates a sense of commonality and gives coherence to diverse activities. It creates excitement and makes an extraordinary company. It allows everyone to work together. It creates a common identity and a sense of purpose. It encourages new ways of thinking and acting. It gives courage and fosters risk taking and experimentation. Basically without a shared vision, that vision you spent time creating is pointless and meaningless. And without a shared vision the learning organization cannot exist.

What is a learning organization? A learning organization is one that continually learns and improves. A learning organization is one that learns faster than its competition, one that taps the knowledge of the entire organization and does not only rely on the top person. A learning organization learns from its failures and creates a new paradigm.

Imagine trying to learn from your failures if you are not part of a learning organization. Instead of learning people will pass blame, try to hide or ignore their failures and in the end the entire company suffers. In a learning organization a failure is seen as a chance to learn and then possibly shift your paradigm towards how things could be done.

With a shared vision everyone has a common destination and a common picture. They then work together as a team, supporting and encouraging each other. There is no competition between people, therefore there is no need to pass blame or hide your failures.

You may think that this all sounds wonderful but will never happen, but it actually does happen. To create this collaborative environment you need:

  • a committed team leader ? one who encourages openness, gets rid of office politics and listens to the team.
  • a facilitator to help learn this new way of acting. One workshop is not going to change behavior. Change takes time and practice.
  • a willingness to change, to examine what doesn't work and accept a new paradigm if necessary.
  • a structured process to lead the team.

    • GRAEME NICHOL, President, Arcturus Advisors.

    http://www.arcturusadvisors.com/

    Graeme Nichol has worked on 4 continents and in 117 unique businesses gaining experience in manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, communications, banking, direct marketing, consumer goods and retail amongst others. He has significant management experience and consulting experience, including Business strategy, project management, change management, big six consulting, team productivity, business productivity and quality improvement, ERP implementations.

    Arcturus Advisors works with businesses and teams that are struggling to formulate a strategic plan that delivers bottom line results. Using tried and tested planning systems that have achieved results internationally for 20 years we ensure that you transform your business through focus, alignment and accountability.

    In The News:

    pen paper and inkwell


    cat break through


    Do You Have A Customer Identity Crisis?

    The trick is to determine what uniquely identifies your best... Read More

    How To Prepare A Business Plan That Guarantees Big Profits

    It is always said "If you Fail to Plan, you... Read More

    10 Critical Facts to Put On the Cover of Your Business Plan...

    In most business plans, no matter how striking the idea,... Read More

    8 Ways to Earn More Without Working Harder

    Conventional wisdom has it that there are only three ways... Read More

    Top Ten Reasons To Create A One Page Business Plan

    There is a story, about a business owner who wasn't... Read More

    A Rough Cut on Feasibility

    A piano tuner recently moved to Buffalo, NY, and would... Read More

    Corporate Contingency Planning

    Part 1A few weeks ago I attended a seminar sponsored... Read More

    How to Grow Your Business by Clearing the Way to Growth

    Is your business growing as fast and effectively as it... Read More

    Top Ten Traits of Strategic Thinkers

    Want to become more strategic? Add these traits to your... Read More

    Corporate Venturing For Emerging Growth Companies

    The boom of the dot-com era in 1999 brought the... Read More

    Is Your Company Growing Fast Enough for You?

    Are you frustrated by the lack of growth in your... Read More

    Menu Driven Business Planning

    A menu is the foundation of any restaurant; Guests will... Read More

    Insurance Requirements in Franchised Companies

    Franchised companies often require what some believe to be excessive... Read More

    Pave the Way to a Successful Strategic Plan

    Many very successful business owners may never have had a... Read More

    Turning On The Lights

    Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More

    Why Six Sigma Will Work in Healthcare

    If ever there were an industry where we want zero... Read More

    Under Construction During the Storm ? A Hurricane Guide for Businesses that are Under Construction

    As a business owner, you've likely created a hurricane plan... Read More

    Financing Business Expansion for Your Small Company

    How you finance the expansion of your business is important.... Read More

    Break-Even Analysis

    A significant advantage of some business ideas is that the... Read More

    Six Key Principles of Corporate Accountability

    The foundation of any business transaction is the promise of... Read More

    Is Plan B Ready?

    Business owners and entrepreneurs are, by nature, risk takers and... Read More

    How to Write a Business Plan in Five Steps

    People often ask "What makes a good business plan? Or,... Read More

    City of Cortez and South Western Colorado Market Survey

    We have been spending many hours surveying the market for... Read More

    Business Plan Long Term Goals

    Writing a business plan is not an easy endeavor, nor... Read More

    Alice In Wonderland - A Parable for A Business Plan

    Remember reading "Alice in Wonderland?"She asks the Cheshire Cat, "which... Read More

    Attributes of Companies You Dont Want to Buy!

    There are no "rules of thumb" in the pursuit of... Read More

    How to Develop a Successful Board of Advisors (...and Why You Should!)

    In today's rapidly changing and highly competitive markets, many privately... Read More

    What Every Service Provider Ought To Know About Writing A Business Plan

    It's easy to lose sight of what needs to be... Read More

    Business Plan 101 How to Write a Table of Contents

    No matter what business you plan to start in your... Read More

    How To Kick Start Your Business And Double Your Profits

    This will make some people angry as hell, but it's... Read More

    Abstract Thought; Business Strategies and Biological Systems

    To stop a computer virus you must understand how it... Read More

    Online Promotion: 10 Ways To Use Focus Groups To Ignite Your Profits

    A focus group is a group of employees or current... Read More

    Action Planning

    ACTION PLANNING: Action Planning is a process to develop strategies... Read More