See the Big Picture
Most organisation’s visions are… not that visionary.
A better future depends on leaders who can see the big picture.
Quick test of your visionary ability – do you think forward in words or images? Going a step further – does your organisation have a vision statement... or picture?
Vision means to see.
This seems blindingly obvious, yet very rarely are visions visual. Typically organisations develop vision statements. I imagine this is not the first time you have heard the phrase vision statement.
How about a vision picture?
If a picture is worth a thousand words and the typical vision statement is far shorter, then in effect most organisation’s visions are… not that visionary.
It is hardly surprising, as far too many of us have been conditioned to believe that we cannot draw. Almost all of us could draw when we were children, yet we then develop the mistaken belief that drawing is an activity reserved for the talented few.
Just as we retain the ability to speak, we also retain the ability to draw.
To literally vision.
The act of drawing taps into a different part of your brain than spoken and written words. Unlocking greater potential within yourself, your team and across the organisation. Visioning and communicating ideas and possibilities that otherwise would remain…
Unseen.
For an organisation this shift is exponential. When one person sketches it unlocks a personal vision. When multiple people vision it connects and collaboratively inspires to greater possibilities and outcomes.
Seeing the way forward.
Together.
PS As an initial step forward, one approach is to ask your team to sketch or find an image that captures a change they have noticed in the area of interest for visionary exploration. This is a powerful technique – as it harnesses the intelligence and vision of the team ahead of meeting. Giving hesitant artists the option of finding rather than creating.
Ready to vision the year ahead?
To further enhance your visionary skills, explore the full chapter from our Futurework leadership toolkit: See the Big Picture