| Henry Ford dreamed of a car for every
family and Steve Jobs dreamed of a computer in every classroom. At the time, skeptics
thought their dreams were impossible. In the face of adversity, their persistence changed
the world.
We instantly recognize people with vision because they
aren't afraid to share their hopes, their dreams, and their longings. They truly inspire
us. They express their love f or the big picture and offer an irresistible image of the
future. Visionaries are deeply involved with righting social injustices and they love to
break new ground.
They know that the best way to predict the future is to
create it. Instead of following the path, visionaries go where there is no path and blaze
a new trail. And in this new paradigm of leadership they turn each new trail into a path
– true collaboration.
Great visionaries:
- are inherently curious
- convey a clear sense of passion
- explore their own nature unceasingly
- communicate a desire to make life better for others
- do more than expected
- cultivate an optimistic outlook
- expand the sense of possibility
A positive outlook helps you see things in terms of what is
possible. Focusing on expanding the possibilities helps you find your vision.
When you project a longing for the future, people are often
drawn to the picture you paint. Your optimism is contagious. Helen Keller said, "No
pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land, or
opened a new heaven to the human spirit." Indeed, the vision quest often begins with
a sense of dissatisfaction or an internal struggle. Gandhi and Martin Luther King both
went through soul searching before they were able to get in touch with their values and
discover their vision.
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take
your mind off your goals. But Goethe said, "One never goes as far as when one doesn't
know where one is going." There is a delicate balance between knowing where you are
going, and remaining open to possibility. If we limit ourselves to what the mind can
imagine, we can miss out on huge possibilities. Learning to think and live beyond what you
think is possible is like using a new set of muscles. Every day use helps you overcome the
resistance to making the impossible happen.
Sometimes we make the mistake of thinking that only the
leader of an organization holds the vision. In actuality visionaries are everywhere from
the board room to the boiler room. A vision can be as focused as seeing all your files in
perfect order or as broad as Coca-Cola's vision that everyone in the world taste Coke.
Great leaders can tell you where they are going, what they
plan to do along the way and who will share the adventure. Real vision arises from the
deepest parts of yourself, your inner system of beliefs. That means trusting your soul,
thoughts and feelings.
Communicating a vision can be one of the most frustrating
areas of leading an organization – lets make it easier. An effective vision is filled
with visual imagery. Like a good story, it uses the senses to draw people in. A vision
filled with sight, sound, feelings, taste and smell, attract people like a good
restaurant. After visiting a carnival with his daughter, Walt Disney wanted to create a
place of magic that was fun f or the whole family. He dramatically expressed his dream of
Disneyland in terms of discovery, nostalgia, joy, hope and beauty.
Developing a vision is sometimes thought of as a solitary
process. Yet the more people involved in shaping your vision, the more help you can get to
carry it through. Involvement leads to commitment and a willingness to help implement the
plan. An effective vision can act as a catalyst f or other people to expand their goals.
That doesn't mean you design your vision by following the
consensus of other people's opinions. All the players involved in the vision make their
own commitment to it. When your vision of the future is well communicated, you help people
search for and discover new opportunities.
For YOU – create a compelling vision – something
that pulls you forward. Thoughts are magnetic – what are you thinking and what are
you wanting? If something feels daunting or challenging – write a paragraph or two of
a compelling vision and read it a few times a day – watch it take shape!
Make a conscious “choice” to engage with yourself
differently moving towards your own brilliance.
Every interaction has the potential to teach us more about
giving and receiving, balance and creativity:
the power to create. ~ Judith Richardson
©2007 Judith Richardson . All rights reserved. |
