There are three stages to any vision:
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- Vision Development
- Vision Casting
- Vision Implementation
Development involves an analysis of the current context along with the concept-construction of a future, better context.
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Casting involves the communication of the need for and feasility of the vision, along with the inspiration necessary to pursue it.
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Implementation involves the actual construction of the future, better context.
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We all recognize these three stages. You may prefer some other sequence for describing the process, but the fact remains, there is a process. And there are two different ways of viewing it:
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LINE
With this persective, new vision is pursued through all three stages until the point of “completion”. Once implementation is complete, the vision is deemed a success and the organization settles back into the routine of this new vision. This is certainly natural but extremely problematic. Achieved vision is no longer visionary. It is not long after an organization settles into the routine of this new vision that it finds itself “riding on fumes”.
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CIRCLE
.Viewing the three vision stages as a circle (or cycle) creates a need and insistence for the development of fresh vision once the current vision is fully implemented. The first thought of this likely seems exhausting to most organizations. And that is completely understandable. However, the most vibrant and energetic times of any organization tend to be when new vision is pursued. Good vision is energizing, not exhausting.
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Consider these questions with your team:
- In which stage of the vision process is your organization currently operating?
- Are you currently beyond the implementation stage, “running on fumes”?
- Does your team tend to view vision as a line or a circle?
- Have you been considering what your organization”s next lap around the vision process will look like when this one is complete?
