To lead others, you need a compelling vision. But lofty words are not enough. A vision statement must draw a crystal-clear picture of the future that guides action.<\/p>\n
In 2000, I took over Nelson Books, a major division of Thomas Nelson. I quickly discovered that it was the least profitable of the fourteen units in the company. We desperately needed a turnaround. Yet I knew that starting with tactical discussions about budgets and schedules would only keep us mired in place. People first needed to see what was possible.<\/p>\n
In the words of Antoine de Saint-Exup\u00e9ry, \u201cIf you want to build a ship, don\u2019t drum up the men to gather wood, divide the work and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea.\u201d Vision begins with the heart.<\/p>\n
But it cannot end there. To be actionable, a vision must also be concrete. People must have a clear picture of the destination before they can move toward it. The secret is to provide enough detail to make the vision appear before their eyes, but not so specific that it becomes a tactical plan.<\/p>\n\t\t