Gaining Commitment to the Vision

Here are some suggestions for how you can enhance your skills in the leadership behaviours of Gaining Commitment to the Vision:

• Prior to developing a vison for the organisation or developing a strategic plan, consider how you are going to engage with relevant stakeholders at the outset. Essentially, it is best to have an engagement plan: Who and how are you going to engage with, when and why
• Consider creating an opportunity to get various relevant stakeholders together (or this could be in relation to members of your team/department) to explore their visions. What can you all see as common important elements? How does it relate to the vision of the organisation/service area/department? Whose support do you need to make it happen
• Ensure that your team, and you, are working to the same vision.
• Make sure that your vision is in line with – or at least not at variance with – the goals and objectives of the organisation/department/team.
• To achieve the vision, it will be essential to gain the commitment of your team/department/organisation. Explore the visions of your team members in relation to “how we work together as a team/department”
• Discuss openly the tensions between different components of the vision, from the perspectives of the various stakeholders, or team members. Explore ways in which the tensions can be reduced. Try to ensure that all parties engage in the discussion and problem-solving. Listen actively to the various perspectives, and try to see the situation from others’ perspectives. Try to focus on the common important aspects of the vision.
• When you have gone through this process, you need to present your final vision in a form that is accessible to your team members, but which does not make it sound any less exciting. Try to present your ideas in such a way that, while they find the vision to be vivid and exciting, they can understand your description of it.
• There is no point in you communicating a vision that you do not believe in – don’t let the final product be anything less than your ideal. You will need to be fully committed to your vision, and demonstrate this fact.
• Think about people you find passionate and inspirational – what is it about them that makes them this way? Make a note of their defining characteristics. Choose one or two of these to try and emulate – this many not seem natural at first but as you continue to practice it will start to become easier and more fluid.
• Look at resources available online that give guidance on becoming more of an inspirational communicator.
• Ask for feedback and suggestions from a trusted colleague who you find inspirational on your ability to communicate a compelling vision and see if they have any tips and hints you can learn from.