Strategic Planning Information

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.


    MORE RESOURCES:

    Feedback on the Strategic Planning Process
    Concordia Journal, Canada - 4 hours ago
    The following comments were taken from among those on the strategic planning website. To join the conversation, go to the Strategic Planning website. ...
    Well-attended meetings spark ideas Concordia Journal
    all 2 news articles


    Strategic planning can be a Faustian bargain
    Michigan Technological University Online Lode, MI - Dec 3, 2008
    Strategic planning is the latest rage in university administration. It is relies on numbers for guiding a university to fame. Fame is defined as a ranking ...


    Crane, tourism top strategic planning list
    Times-Mail (subscription), IN - Dec 3, 2008
    By KRYSTAL SHETLER krystal@tmnews.com BEDFORD — Opportunities exist in Lawrence County for growth, development and tourism. But how do officials get started ...


    Strategic Planning Recovery Guide - Proven Steps to Manage ...
    PR Web (press release), WA - Dec 2, 2008
    Benefit from strategic planning expert, Kim Warren's advice on "Strategic Recovery". Learn from experienced survivors - don't let history repeat itself! ...


    Newtown has plan to make schools better
    Danbury News Times, CT - Dec 3, 2008
    The board voted unanimously last week to authorize subcommittees to develop the five strategies chosen by the Strategic Planning Action Committee. ...


    City might expand strategic-planning process
    Florida Today, FL - Nov 25, 2008
    BY JESSICA RAYNOR • FLORIDA TODAY • November 25, 2008 TITUSVILLE — Residents may get a larger role in Titusville’s strategic-planning process, which guides ...


    Brookwood Medical Center creates job to bolster strategic planning
    The Birmingham News - al.com, AL - Nov 28, 2008
    Birmingham's Brookwood Medical Center has created a new senior management position to handle its strategic planning and interactions with governmental ...


    Security Outside The Box
    National Journal, DC - 7 hours ago
    NJ: Why do you also call for greater strategic planning capability, but below the level of the NSC? Locher: Well, right now the NSC doesn't have the kind of ...


    American names VP of operations, finance
    Bizjournals.com, NC - Nov 21, 2008
    American Airlines Inc., a subsidiary of AMR Corp., named Doug Herring vice president of operations, finance and strategic planning. Prior to this new role, ...
    Doug Herring Tapped to Lead American Airlines Operations Finance ... International Business Times
    all 13 news articles


    Chick-fil-A Launches Successful Mobile FKM Campaign in the Face of Ike
    MarketWatch - 3 hours ago
    FKM is a fully integrated agency with capabilities ranging from interactive, lead generation and mobile marketing to strategic planning, creative, ...

    Strategic-Planning - Google News

    home | site map
    © 2006