In his book Traction, Gino Wickman writes:
“…most entrepreneurs can clearly see their vision. Their problem is that they make the mistake of thinking that everyone else in the organization sees it too. In most cases, they don’t, and as a result, leaders end up frustrated, staff ends up confused, and great visions are left unrealized.”
Wow. That resonates.
I’ve seen it over and over again. I’ve walked into dozens of companies – successful companies with great products or services – who should be growing by leaps and bounds, but aren’t. They're stagnant, experiencing slow or nonexistent growth, with frustrated leaders and unhappy staff.
I’ve interviewed staff members and discovered that many of them are flying blind, without understanding how their role fits in with the company as a whole. I’ve worked with managers who are disappointed that their staff members aren’t taking initiative to improve the department.
I’ve heard leaders complain about a crushing workload and hectic schedule, which, despite their best efforts, never seems to get the company where they want it to go.
They’re not getting what they want from their businesses.
There are many reasons why this happens, but key among them is the lack of clear communication of the company’s direction.
Leaders have a vision for their organization, and most of them feel like everyone in their organization is aware of it and supports it. Often, they're wrong, and that’s a huge missed opportunity. If you think you’re not in that boat – if you’re sure everyone on your team understands your vision – try this exercise: ask them to write a brief summary – just a sentence or two – describing that vision. Make it anonymous if it makes them more comfortable. Let them know that it’s not a test, just a method of gathering feedback.
When the results are in, will they match your expectations?
If they don’t align, you’ll have discovered one of the biggest challenges to achieving your vision. You’ve probably got some excellent resources on your team, but if they don’t know where you’re going, how can they help you get there?
In EOS®, we use the term, “Shared by All”, meaning everyone in your organization, from the top to the bottom, clearly understands your vision.
I’m privileged to have watched dozens of teams discover the power of a shared vision. Once everyone is on the same page, each member of the team has the information they need to focus their energies on the right tasks.
Ready to hear more? I’d like to spend 90 minutes with you and your team, exploring the EOS tools that will help you get everything you want out of your organization. By the end of the 90 minutes, we’ll both have a clear understanding of whether or not EOS is a good fit for your company, and the best path for you to move forward.
About the Author
Kirsten Smith, founder of Made to Thrive Consulting, is a business management strategist and EOS Implementer®. She has over 20 years Business Development and Management experience with small and large organizations alike, including those listed among the Fortune 500. She is both a business professional and motivational speaker covering a range of topics including attitude change, effective sales techniques, customer service excellence, and personality profiling. Her passion is helping entrepreneurs and leaders be the very best version of themselves and to do more than just survive … THRIVE!
Contact Kirsten at ksmith@madetothrivellc.com.
© 2024 Made to Thrive Consulting, LLC. All right reserved.