20/20 Team Vision Ahead ??

"I firmly believe a leader's primary role, whether CEO, director, or team manager, is to ensure everyone knows our core mission [...] Everybody needs a clear vision for what you're trying to accomplish. And that vision needs to be crisp, and clear and measurable. And something that you can relate to everybody."

- Chris Williams

The Question

How Vision Improves Employee Engagement

A vision cannot be merely words on paper. A well-crafted vision is a driving force behind engaged teams.

No one understands this better than this week's podcast featured guest, Chris Williams, a leadership expert with HR experience from Microsoft turned?leadership advisor with a 220k audience.

He's a big proponent that everyone from an organization needs a clear vision of what you're trying to accomplish. That vision unlocks a multitude of ripple effects that can be used from the manager to any employee in a random department. All because they get what everyone is working towards.

Check out Chris' Episode

Unicorn Leaders Podcast Feature

This is an episode you won't want to miss. From writing software to scaling teams and even holding the VP of HR role at Microsoft, Chris brings a wealth of insights and colour to the table. His conversation pulls you in and translates leadership concepts into clear, understandable tidbits. Currently, he's captivating the digital landscape, reaching millions each month with his impactful leadership resources on social media.

He's bringing all of these insights where we dive into questions and topics like:

• What vision isn't, and how to develop it?
• Shifting visions and how to use vision for direction.
• Value of social bonding, corporate personality tests, and good vs. great leadership.

Watch the full interview below!

Episode Takeaways

Don't have time to listen to the full episode? Don't sweat it. Here are some takeaways you can still reflect on from the episode:

• A Vision Extends Beyond Senior Leadership.?Whether you're steering a team, managing a department, or directing a startup, a clear vision guides your collective efforts while helping the team continue feeling connected together and the work they do. Think about the pandemic chaos – those with a solid vision kept their teams going strong. Meanwhile, those without direction struggled.
• Refining and Testing Your Vision.?How can you tell if you've got the right vision??An effective vision is measurable; it guides actions with quantifiable goals. For teams already in motion, streamline your objectives into one or two key focal points, then measure and communicate progress. Testing your vision?involves checking if everyone, even at the bottom, can articulate it and gauge progress. Talk to your team, even the guy down the hall. Can they echo that vision? Do they have a sense of where we stand? If yes, you're on the right track. Vision doesn't have to be a mysterious 'aha' moment; it's a clear direction that guides everyone toward success.
• Nurturing Trust and High-Performing Teams.?When it comes to high-performing teams, trust is the backbone. Building a real team is more than just a group of people; it's about trusting each other to navigate challenges together. Offsites and games won't conjure trust – it's achieved through shared accomplishments and facing the tough stuff as a team. A crisp vision also can help fuel this journey, guiding teams toward measurable milestones. Trust grows as you weather difficulties, watching each others' backs through thick and thin. Don't shy away from acknowledging failures; they're stepping stones for your team to become even stronger.

Truly great companies understand the difference between what should never change and what should be open for change, between what is genuinely sacred and what is not. Vision helps make that distinction. I wrote about it here:?Leadership Trainings Clarify the Goals of Organizations

Listen to the Unicorn Leaders Podcast below!?

Apple Podcasts?&?Spotify

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Sincerely,

The Unicorn Labs Team