Have you ever been in a situation where the ability to connect and inspire a vision or goal with other people has failed? Inspiring a shared vision in any circumstance can be extremely difficult and challenging. In any leadership role, it is important to be confident and recognize the needs and wants of both the members and the organization as a whole. When envisioning the future of an organization or a club, it is important to first recognize and incorporate the hopes, dreams and goals of the entire organization, which includes all members.
Leaders need to be passionate and motivate the entire team once a vision is developed. Getting all members on board to understand not only WHAT the vision entails and HOW this vision will be tackled, but also WHY this vision is important is crucial to inspiring a shared vision. Understanding the WHY of a vision, is very important because it allows all members to recognize the underlying value and meaning behind the passion for any future goal or plans.
In a TedTalk by Simon Sinek, he describes the importance of understanding the WHY of any vision. He emphasizes the fact that visions need to hold a greater purpose that inspires and creates excitement within an organization. “People don’t buy what you do. They buy why you do it.” Simon Sinek gives the example of Martin Luther King Jr. and his “I Have a Dream” Speech. Martin Luther King Jr. gave this famous speech to over 250,000 people. It is important to remember that at this time in history, technology and social media were not around to promote and advertise this gathering. His speech had such a large turnout because they believed in his vision for the future – a future with no racial discrimination. The audience did not come for Martin Luther King Jr. but rather they came for the vision he inspired. He is a prime example of successfully inspiring a shared vision.
Just like Martin Luther King Jr., all leaders must be passionate and believe that they can make a difference. The ability to articulate and motivate members to share in a vision is a great tool to increase the success, happiness and productivity of any organization or club. A leader should excite members about the future and make sure each and every person feels included in the process. Leaders should have the ability to share their goals and visions with other people, so that they see the same thing. So, to conclude, I challenge you to get out there, inspire a shared vision, and motivate the world!