Part I: Shared Vision
Are you looking for better pathways to effective leadership and communication? Are you looking for a more sustainable approach to empowering the strengths of those around you? Solutions exist and they may be simpler than you imagine. How about a tool that can help you assess your current circumstance while also striving toward your “better self”?
Those with awareness of their own mindset, emotions, and behaviors are more effective leaders and more visionary human beings. Leaders with a clarity of vision help others strive toward meaningful actions that contribute to a more expansive purpose.
A leader with vision inspires others to connect more deeply with themselves and therefore to the work at hand. When inner responsibility and potential are engaged, groups and individuals perform beyond what might have seemed out of reach.
This is the beginning of human-centric, service-focused leadership. Service-focused leaders are those who understand the power of collaboration, shared vision, and bringing out the best in one another. We open ourselves to a vision beyond remaining solo beings traveling a solo experience and become intricately woven into shared purpose – and therefore a shared investment in outcomes. This type of sharing requires flexibility, one of the most important attributes in the future of leadership.
Many years ago, I conceived of a theory to move leaders beyond the notion of physical space to the dynamic and expansive notion of mind space and tried it out with colleagues, friends, clients, and even with a highly appreciative group of FBI leaders. The rest of the world seems to have caught up to the theory, and massive changes over the last several years have demanded a way to action it – to find better ways of envisioning the space we occupy that extends far beyond where our bodies happen to be (e.g., the traditional use of offices and board rooms).
In response, we created a tool from the concept. A tool for assessing needs and making change and is a simple way to help conscious leaders build on performance and engagement opportunities. We’ve named the tool: MindSPACE.
The letters from the word SPACE are an acronym to help describe the components of building success in any group. The components are:
- Shared Vision
- Personality
- Accessibility
- Connection
- Emotion
Embracing the concept of MindSPACE puts focus on generating and refining an improved atmosphere for open communication. It extends beyond place and acknowledges the importance of human gifts and collaboration.
In addition to this introduction of MindSPACE, you’ll find below information about the first element- Shared Vision. In the coming articles of this five-part series, we will be exploring the rest of the components of MindSPACE to direct ourselves, build stronger connections in both physical and virtual workspace, and take more effective actions that lead to higher performance and results. It is a systematic way to define and enhance performance.
As you reflect on each of the parts, we invite you to assess your area of focus and where you currently find yourself. Then try using the colors green, yellow, and red to describe it.
Green – is go; all is working well.
Yellow – is caution; this is an area that deserves renewed attention.
Red – is stop; there is a significant issue here that needs to be resolved.
More specific instructions, a helpful checklist, and a printable MindSPACE performance profile can be found HERE to help engage more deeply with this process.
SHARED VISION
The first element in our work with teams and clients is to build a Shared Vision. We have various strategies to help leaders in different industries and with diverse styles, but the importance and power of Shared Vision for all cannot be over-emphasized.
Have you ever worked with a leader who has a vision- you can tell by their motivation and passion- but the people they work with aren’t clear about where they are going, how they may assist in the process, and the meaning of it all? This leader has lost the ‘shared’ element of vision that is imperative for effective collaboration. This makes is impossible for the team to be engaged, focused, or excited about the task at hand and the ultimate journey together.
A powerful Shared Vision enables you to translate the concept created in your mind and project it into the heart of another. Envisioning a future of possibility, that applies in any area of business and life, provides clarity, hope, and aspiration.
Visualizing a result attaches emotion, deepening conviction and commitment. Accomplished athletes often use visualization to achieve great results, seeing every move they plan to make during the competition ahead of time in their mind’s eye. During the visualization, other senses can be accessed, such as expected temperature, elements of nature, the scent of sweat, and the roar of the crowd when they reach the finish line. Such images can intensify the visualization. This mental rehearsal can prepare the mind by reducing anxiety and increasing confidence. Research has shown visualization activates the motor cortex, preparing the body as well. And it doesn’t just work for athletes!
It helps creators innovate, artists awaken emotion, and humanitarians shape change. And it can help YOU envision and accomplish your goals.
Now let’s take a moment to assess your current situation. Answer the questions for yourself and decide if your situation merits a red, yellow, or green. Add that color to the profile as it relates to Shared Vision. We will offer other tools to help you address or fill any gaps with action later.
Ask yourself:
- Do we have a big, shared vision that contributes to our team, company, clients, the community, and/or the world?
- Do we communicate the vision clearly, engage in collaboration and ask for feedback along the way?
- Are we making the most of our talent by building an environment of inclusion, wellbeing, and productivity?
- Are we alert to ways of reducing risk, improving our assets, serving our clients better, and making a meaningful difference in reaching our goals and purpose?
- Are we set up to consistently check in for support and alignment with Shared Vision?
Above all, ask yourself: Where are you as it relates to Shared Vision for your focus area? Red? Yellow? Or Green? That’s all you need to do at this time. The next article will assess the power of personality. As we travel this journey together, we invite you to stay with us, open, flexible, and willing.
See you next time!
