I’ve been looking for a larger than life kind of inspiration for this particular blog post. I’ve settled for ‘Vision to Results – How to lead in a changing world!’ Are you wondering why?
Well, the answer is simple. This post is the 7th of our 12-part leadership series. We’ve gone past the halfway mark; I need to bring my ‘A game’ to the party. So, I took time off to do yoga this afternoon. Am I inspired and pumped? Oh yes and with a vision! So much so that we’re going to be discussing 3 areas to consider as you plan for 2018. Specifically, how you get from vision to results effectively.
It’s that time of the year when as leaders, we sit down and look at hard numbers as the measure of success and business growth. We look at how we’re tracking towards our sales targets, growth numbers, stock ratings and other numbers associated business or personal success. At the same time, the pressure is on to look into the future. We look at growth strategies for 2018 based on trends, insights, results from this year, new market opportunities, sales targets etc.
Question – as a leader, do you focus on the numbers or do you start with the vision? Forbes Insight, in collaboration with Gap International, recently produced a whitepaper based on research with over 400 CEOs and COOs. It states that the “demanding and shifting business environment requires a change in how leaders think and act.”
As a visionary leader who has had the opportunity to work with a countless number of business leaders, here are 3 areas I invite you to consider in leading from vision to results; 2018 is your best year yet! If any of these areas are unclear, do get in touch for some proven systems and blueprints to support you!
1. Dream big and articulate the vision
Be larger than life. Vision is about future reality; not the current state or it’s perceived limitations.
2. Buy-in and alignment is key
For vision to turn into exponential growth results, it’s important that everyone who is part of this big jigsaw puzzle is on board. Remember our first leadership blog post on ‘the mother ship’? Now m
ay be a good time to revisit it and put this article into fuller context. Your vision needs buy-in from both internal and external stakeholders – internal teams, their leadership, customers/buyers etc.
Actionable advice: Take a look at your organisation. If it’s a larger one, is there a direct alignment across sales, marketing, services, product and strategy. Hint: if there truly is, there will be a common KPI on growth and linked directly to the CEO. Not sure, do get in touch for an alignment review consultation at no cost.
3. Execution – the key from vision to results
Get to the results. Take inspired leadership action and see this through the rest of the organisation.
- What’s the YoY (year on year) growth number to be achieved?
- What’s the strategy to get here?
- Are teams speaking the same language and working cohesively, despite the different measures of success?
Bonus Point:
Acknowledge and include buyer/customer insight and participation in the process. How close are sales executives to the buyer/customer? Is there documented/recorded evidence of this to play back to the buyer/customer? Are there mutual customer impact assessment plans to play back to the buyer/customer? At what times during the customer’s journey do these plans come out to impact growth numbers (upsell/cross-sell opportunities)?
The conclusion of Forbes Insight’s whitepaper, which I concur with is simple: “Executives who do not continually reframe their mindset to fit the times will be left behind ”
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Maggie Sarfo is a passionate author, speaker, advisor and mentor for ambitious business executives, entrepreneurs and professionals looking to explode sales revenue, create new markets or access their highest potential. Her blog is her playground, where she explores the topics of business growth, personal growth and peak performance. Learn more about her programmes.
