The discipline of visioning for leaders

AbstractThe author is professor of leadership at the IMD Business School and a cofounder of Genesis Advisers, and particularly known for his classic bookThe First 90 Days. He discusses vision and visioning in the context of leadership and business: “The discipline of visioning is about building bridges between possible futures and current realities.” He cautions that a vision is not a mission, or strategy, and it is “not a set of core objectives.” He makes further distinctions: “Purpose is about defining why your organization exists. Vision is about identifying an inspiring future destination or achievement.” He writes that a “compelling vision helps employees understand how their work contributes to the enterprise’s success and furthers its mission and purpose.” He advocates moving from a personal vision to a shared vi sion: “Can you imagine a clear, desirable future state to which you want to lead your business?” He advocates and describes various techniques, including, in his words, backcasting, powerful simplification, the architect’s exercise, and the vision workshop. “Visioning in leadership,” he co ncludes, “involves developing and communicating the vision through powerful simplification and storytelling that align the organization’s strategies, policies and actions with the vision.”
Source: Leader to Leader - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: EXECUTIVE FORUM Source Type: research