One of the biggest challenges that organizations face is how to improve coordination among team members. While most teams are aligned to some degree, they are often not aligned to the degree that they could be. Check this out in your own organization. Ask individual team members independently what the top three strategic imperatives are for their team. If you hear a wide variety of answers, you will know that team members are not as closely aligned behind a common vision as they could be.

When people are not aligned behind a compelling vision there is a risk that people will "check out" or end up "spinning their wheels." "Checking out" occurs when people do not see how their work contributes to anything larger. When work is perceived as having little significance, it is common for people to disengage and resign themselves to low impact work that requires just enough effort to get by.

"Spinning your wheels" happens when people double their effort but don't get any traction. These people are working hard but it is unclear how their work is contributing to the direction the group is heading. When this occurs, people experience false starts, have to redo work, or discover that others have already done the same work.

A clear vision helps in both of these cases. When people can see where the larger group is heading and why heading that way is important, they can begin to work in the same direction. Instead of wasting their time on low impact projects--or redoing work that misses the mark--they can focus on high impact areas that directly contribute to shared goals and subsequently improve the company's bottom line.

Sometimes people confuse goals and visions. One way to distinguish between the two is to ask, "What's next?" A goal, once reached, is finished. A vision, on the other hand, offers clear direction for future activity--what you should do next. A vision continues to act as a beacon, guiding you in setting new goals once current ones have been achieved.

A vision

• Helps you understand what business you're really in
• Provides guidelines that help you make daily decisions
• Provides a picture of the desired future that you can actually see
• Is enduring
• Is about being "great"--not just about beating the competition
• Is inspiring--not expressed solely in numbers
• Touches the hearts and spirits of everyone
• Helps each person see how he or she can contribute

Too often in organizations, leaders set goals without first answering, "For what purpose?" When goals are not clearly connected to the purpose and values of the larger group, members begin to move at cross-purposes to each other.

If you would like to see people working more closely together on projects, Dr. Stoner suggests that you start by encouraging people to ask questions. Individual contributors should make sure they ask their immediate supervisor and teammates these questions: "What would make my function magnificent? Where are we going as an organization? How do my goals help?"

After getting a response, encourage team members to probe for more complete understanding. Suggest that they follow up with responses like, "What do you mean?", "Could you clarify that for me?", and "Tell me more." This will deepen their understanding of the overall vision and allow them to set goals that are better aligned with the group and each other.

For team leaders, Dr. Stoner recommends holding a team discussion once a year to make sure that everyone is still on the same page. Have events occurred during the past year that impact the direction that was originally set? Ask team members what impact they think the events will have--or have had--on the vision. Do the goals still make sense? If not, how are they missing the mark?

Without a shared vision, how can you be sure that the individual goals and objectives being set for the coming year are building toward larger overall success? Setting a compelling vision is the first step in moving together toward greater achievement on an individual, team, or organizational level.

December is a great time for setting a vision that will provide the foundation for powerful goals at all levels. As you look at goal setting and objectives for the coming year, don't forget to look at the role that strategic vision plays in supercharging this planning.

Each month The Ken Blanchard Companies® offers free webinars on improving organizational performance. This month we are featuring Dr. Jesse Stoner on the power of vision.

Supercharge Your 2006 Objectives through the Power of Vision
Wednesday, December 7, 2005
9:00-10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, (12 noon-1:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

December is a perfect time to examine your vision, your goals, and your plans to achieve them.

In this webinar Dr. Jesse Stoner will show you how to use the power of vision to identify 2006 objectives that will get you where you want to go. Learn the difference between a goal and a vision. Learn strategies to continually align your goals with your strategic direction. And learn how to navigate from vision to reality. Whether you are on a growth curve, in the midst of a change effort, or simply want to re-energize yourself or your team, this online seminar will help you take purposeful and passionate steps toward success.

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The Simple Truths of Service is an inspiring and unforgettable true story by Barbara Glanz and Ken Blanchard about a young man with Down's syndrome named Johnny. One day after attending a customer service presentation on making a difference and creating meaningful memories, Johnny became very discouraged.

After all, I'm just a bagger, he thought. How can I do anything special for my customers? Learn more...

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The Heart of a Leader captures the essence of Ken Blanchard's leadership parables in a simple and concise summary format. A great reminder or introduction to his life's work. Learn More...

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Go Team! and Self Leadership and the One Minute Manager