Leaders In Motion
January 2009
A periodic “ah hah!” for Executive Leaders & HR Professionals, compliments of Visioning In Action

An inside peak:  In your professional life, do you march resolutely through your day or quiver with excitement?  In your daily life, do you swallow your meal or inhale a feast?

The difference between living and LIVING comes down to taking one simple first step:  craft a vision that makes you salivate.  Then, go out and live it, breathe it and bust past it.  This essential truth applies to organizations and private individuals alike.

With 2009 all shiny and new, this is the perfect time to focus on visioning.  I am thrilled to launch my Visioning Series in the upcoming issues of Leaders in Motion. Whether you are an executive leader of a senior management team, a mid-level manager with direct reports or an individual seeking to achieve all you can in life, this series will resonate deeply within you and dramatically shift the way you approach life at work and play.

If you want to move from running a great organization to an astounding organization, from leading a great team to a memorable team, or from managing a high potential leader to a phenomenal treasure, visioning is definitely a tool you want to use.

Next issue: "Visioning Series Part 2"


Vibrant Visions Spawn Flourishing Futures – How to Move You & Your Organization from Merely Great to Astounding (Series Launch)

As I sit in my office cogitating away, I am moved to wonder about the state of affairs with my readers.  Specifically, I am curious to know:

  • In your professional life, do you march resolutely through your day or do you quiver with excitement?
  • In your daily life, do you swallow a meal or inhale a feast?

If you feel like it, send me a quick email and tell me.  It all relates to this...

The difference between living and LIVING comes down to taking one simple first step:  craft a vision that makes you salivate.  Then, go out and live it, breathe it and bust past it.  This essential truth applies to organizations and private individuals alike.

With 2009 all shiny and new, this is the perfect time to focus on visioning.  I am thrilled to launch my Visioning Series in the upcoming issues of Leaders in Motion. Whether you are an executive leader of a senior management team, a mid-level manager with direct reports or an individual seeking to achieve all you can in life, this series will resonate deeply within you and dramatically shift the way you approach life at work and play.

If you want to move from running a great organization to an astounding organization, from leading a great team to a memorable team, or from managing a high potential leader to a phenomenal treasure, visioning is definitely a tool you want to use.

Let’s begin with the basics.

What is the difference between visioning and visualizing?

Visioning is a dynamic process to help you identify a specific direction for an organization, a team, a project or an individual.  Although the process can vary according to the purpose and situation, visioning typically involves gathering a select group of individuals together, eliciting their various insights and pulling together a common vision of where you want to go.  Visioning can also be completed by an individual but is generally more potent if ideas are generated in a group setting.   

Visualizing is usually an individual exercise where you manifest a specific goal or desired outcome by holding a picture of it in your mind.  Once you have a clear vision in place, you can use visualizing as a powerful tool to activate your vision.

How can I use visioning in my organization?

There are endless applications.  For example, you can effectively use a visioning exercise to:
  • Jump start a strategic planning session with your Board or senior management team.
  • Bring everyone onto the same page during a goal setting or planning session with a new or existing team.
  • Clarify a path for a new project.
  • Tap into key areas of potential during a coaching session with a leader.

How can I use visioning in my personal life?

Again, there are limitless possibilities.  You can use visioning to:
  • Build a vision of your life together to take your marriage and family relationships to the highest heights.
  • Help your kids plan their life so that they can handle homework, chores and extracurricular activities with élan.
  • Negotiate family dynamics in a creative, positive environment that you built together. 

I used it last week to inspire my family to take over washing the dishes after dinner.  You can even have fun with it!

What are the key benefits of visioning?

The benefits of visioning are endless.  With visioning, you can:

1.  Create clarity

It is dearly impossible for an organization, team or individual to achieve their goals if they flounder about without a clear idea of what they really want.  Visioning removes confusion and doubt and creates a crystal clear path.

2.  Inspire useful support from others 

If you can articulate your desires and goals, other people can identify where and how to step in and help you get there.

3.  Tell the universe what you want

Think Law of Attraction.  Get your intentions out there working for you.

4.  Measure your progress

A vision is something concrete you can assess and update on a regular basis.  The visioning process provides you with a system you can rely on to measure your achievements, navigate the shifting tides in your life and continuously propel you forward.

5.  Make solid decisions

Visioning is a powerful decision-making tool.  If you need help sorting out what to do, revisit your vision to help you gain perspective, assess your priorities and make good decisions.

6.  Experience ongoing excitement at the cellular level

The words bored and stale will forever leave your vocabulary. When you have a pulsating vision posted on your wall, excitement will literally flow through your body.  Be forewarned – it can be hard to sleep at night when your vision is vibrating through your whole body.

7.  Host high impact conversations

It awes me how the power of a simple vision can trigger exciting, meaningful and productive conversations with everyone you meet.  Post that sucker where everyone can see it and watch what happens.  Magic. 

8.  Be an extraordinary role model

Visions are contagious.  When others see the results of your visioning process, they will want to do it too.  Read my previous article on employee engagement and you will know what I mean.

So, grab a coloured marker.  Next month, we start visioning. 

Thanks for your time.  Talk to you in February.

As always, warmest regards,

Michele Gervais

Professional Speaker, Facilitator & Coach
Visioning In Action
Professional Member of Canadian Association of Professional Speakers (CAPS)
Expert Author, EzineArticles.com

Email:  mgervais@visioninginaction.com
Tel:     204.899.4046
www.visioninginaction.com

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Our Mission Statement
"Founded in 1989, Visioning In Action vitalizes organizations by facilitating customized strategic planning, visioning and goal-setting sessions; coaching individual leaders; and speaking on topics related to visioning.  We align and mobilize organizations, teams and leaders “From Vision To Action” by helping them to assess where they are now, create a compelling vision of where they want to be and implement a plan to get there." 


Does your vision make you salivate?