Last Updated on April 11, 2023 by Dave Schoenbeck
As I have preached for years, communication is the response you receive, not just the words you say. If your team isn’t responding to your vision, you haven’t communicated it effectively.
Why is team vision important?
The vision is your company’s “why.” It should drive every decision you make and every change you implement; without the context of the “why,” it’s easy for team members to resist change or criticize nonsensical decisions.
Your vision gives your team a concept to unite behind. When everyone buys into the vision, your team can see that their role serves a larger purpose. It motivates your employees and unifies your company toward a common goal. Once you learn how to communicate your vision to your team, they will understand why.
How do you develop and communicate a vision?
Before you think about how to communicate your vision to your team, you need to develop a vision, to begin with. Think about what purpose your company serves in the marketplace. Who are you helping? What are your values? What impact do you want to make on your industry or the world? What goals do you have for the next few years and beyond?
Your vision should be aspirational, a dream for the future that every employee can help contribute to. It should inspire you and your team to shoot for the stars.
Once you have a vision, the next step is to learn how to communicate your vision to your team. First, keep it simple. To sum up, you should be able to explain your company’s vision in a quick elevator pitch. It helps to encapsulate it into a catchy slogan included in training materials and other internal documents. If you can’t articulate the vision, anyone will buy in.
Next, go out of your way to communicate how your company’s position fits into the vision. It’s hard for entry-level employees to feel like they’re making a difference. You should demonstrate the company’s workflow, showing where every part of the process leads.
The next step is always to be transparent. Your team needs to trust you and understand where your decisions are coming from. Then, explain how significant changes fit into the vision; getting them on board will be easier.
Finally, demonstrate the vision with your leadership. If you have a pessimistic attitude, it will rub off on your team. Instead, you need to model the kind of aspirational thinking that you want to see in your employees.
If you need help learning how to communicate your vision to your team, a professional business coach can help. Please complete my contact form for a complimentary coaching session to get employees to buy into your vision.
Coach Dave
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