I’ve served on a vision team on three occasions, two of which I facilitated. The first was at a time when the economy had just kicked most companies in the rear. All three vision teams successfully focused the businesses on a future path. All three organizations have experienced record growth since. I’m not saying the growth was 100 % because of the vision team’s involvement, but the vision team’s recommendations had something to do with it.
How a Vision Team Could Save Your Business
Creating a Vision Team
Who – A vision team shouldn’t be comprised solely of employees. The team could include vendors, customers, and interested parties such as business people who have invested in or mentored the organization.
What – The purpose of a vision team is to offer recommendations for the future growth of an organization based on practical activities with reachable goals.
How – One of the best tools for a vision team is a SWOT (Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats); another way is to build a business roadmap.
Building a Roadmap
Roadmap creation begins with answers to the following questions:
- Where is the organization now, and where do they want to be?
- What is the difference between the current and desired state of the organization?
- What is needed in the way of tools, training, policies, and procedures to reach the goal?
- How will change impact the organization both positively and negatively?
- What will change cost in dollars and time?
- How will performance be measured, what indicators can be used to judge progress, and what milestones will be set?
- What will the process look like? Who will do what, when, and how?
- How will change be accomplished?
- What are the priorities? What comes first?
- How can the process be simplified?
Facilitating Vision Team Meetings
The vision teams I sat on differed, one had several meetings, another held three, and the other had one session with individual follow-up. I prefer multiple meetings because I tend to rush when given limited time, and a vision team shouldn’t be rushed.
- Conduct a SWOT analysis, roadmap exercise, or both.
- Brainstorm Vision Team recommendations.
- Come to a consensus on vision recommendations based on impact and feasibility.
- Share the vision team recommendations in writing with the organization’s leadership.
- Schedule a follow-up with the leadership team.
What’s Your Vision?
Where is your organization going? What’s down the road? Do you see and recognize every possibility? I ask because so many leaders get stuck in the trenches and find it difficult to see the forest for the trees. So, maybe it’s time to bring in the cavalry. Ask a couple of loyal and valued employees, ask a mentor, enlist a vendor, seek out local business people you respect, and form a vision team. Because you never know what they may see in your future.
How Can I Help You?
I like to help people and organizations, but I have three criteria I consider before taking an assignment – I believe in what the organization stands for, I know I can help, and it looks like fun. If you have any questions, Contact Me.
Does your business have a management training plan? Businesses and universities use my book, The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management, as the basis for their leadership development program. I’m also available to conduct training.
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
