Communicating your Vision

The other day, I wrote about the importance of leading through change by communicating what you see as being on the other side of the change. But how do you do that?

Simply put, we work backward from the outcome to the method. The outcome is the executed vision. Your vision. The ability to see not necessarily what IS going to happen, which is reserved for seers perhaps beyond our acquaintance, but what you WANT to see happen, and communicating that desire by painting a picture to those you have the privilege to lead, of how things will look when what you want becomes a shared reality. The method is how you get there.

Another quick rowing story. In 1986, I left the National Rowing Camp because, still being in the military, I was not permitted to go behind the 'Iron Curtain' to take part in the Goodwill Games being held in Moscow. I showed up at Penn Athletic Club in Philadelphia where coach Ted Nash, who was himself a 1960 Olympic gold medalist, was gathering rowers from around the country who had all been cut or otherwise rejected from other opportunities to win a spot on the world championship roster. After Ted had put myself with three other hopefuls in a four oared shell without a coxswain (steerer), and that boat had gone exceptionally well in practice, he brought us into the Penn AC trophy room, sat the four of us down and said;

"Men, as you know, this year, the world championships are being held in Nottingham, England. Nottingham is a beautiful place, the 2000 meter course has stands for 70,000 people. There are cows munching on the grass right down to the waters edge. The last 500 meters of the final (he didn't say we had to go through the US trials, the heat and semifinal and perhaps a repechage of the worlds just to MAKE it to the final) you will be ahead. In pain, of course, but ahead. With ten strokes to go, you may feel like you are going to die. And you may. BUT, you will be ahead. When you cross the line, first, you will be world champions. That night there will be a huge party in a big white tent for all the athletes. When you return, (and he walked over to the trophy wall and pointed), we will put your picture right here, next to the pictures of the other champions that have passed through these same doors the last 100 years. And, 20 years from now, you will be able to bring your kids here and say to them 'I did that'. Now, let's go row"

And we did. Every day, twice a day. And every single practice, without exception, Ted took the opportunity to reiterate, in multiple ways and with singular detail, this picture of the future we had only vaguely glimpsed prior, or, perhaps, had never seen. There were no long stories. No emphasis on what HE could do. It was all about what WE could do.

To communicate your vision to those you lead (including yourself!), it must first, be clear. It must be real. You are PAINTING a picture, not in rough lines, but in a gorgeous panoply of color. Secondly, you must take every opportunity to communicate that picture to your team mates in every conceivable way; in person, by text, email, phone, article, whatever. Two times a day, is not excessive if done not in the same way or with the same words or images, but ones that will resonate and inspire attention. Thirdly, remember, that you are speaking to the head AND the heart. Some will respond to clear lines and analytical thinking. Others will transform their energy because you inspire them to greatness.

That is what I wish for you and for your team. We will explore these methods to get to the outcome in more detail as we move forward in our series. But, enjoy! We are in an unprecedented time. This is for all of our challenge. To get through with power and possibility, we must remember not what we can't do, but what we can.