Vision First—
The How Will Follow
It’s tempting for an organization to dive right into planning before defining a
strong vision for their company, department, or project. According to Michael
Hyatt, bestselling author, podcaster, and owner of a multi-million-dollar
online training company, it’s simple: “Vision always precedes strategy.” While
both are crucial, even the best strategy will fail to save a project that lacks a
well-defined vision.
It’s not enough to have a good plan. “You’ve got to get clear on the what before
you address the question of how,” Hyatt states. Until a company knows exactly
where it’s going (vision), it won’t be able to choose the best route and the right
resources (strategy) to get there. Here’s why:
Small thinking
Defining a vision allows us to expand and reach for the once-unthinkable.
A strategy-first approach prevents teams from fully developing a vision. It does
this by forcing them to focus on operational details and the barriers to how
things will be accomplished instead of the big picture.
Motivational lapses
Excitement about your vision enables you to recruit others, secure resources, and
stay the course over time. Without a strong, well-articulated vision, you will fail
to motivate yourself or others to implement the supporting strategy necessary
for success.
Look
Online
FOR LEADS
What if your best salesman wins
the lottery and quits tomorrow?
Protect against your biggest
business fears by diversifying the
ways your sales team finds new
customers by looking online.
Though face-to-face interaction
is a tried-and-true way to
generate new sales, you don’t
want to miss out on all the
potential leads who connect
primarily through the internet.
MEASURE TWICE, CUT ONCE
If you’re looking to start
generating leads through online
and social media engagement,
think about strategy before you
begin. If you don’t have much
of a web presence currently,
consider hiring a vendor who will
build a website that effectively
converts leads into new clients.
RESEARCH WHAT WILL
WORK FOR YOU
Search the web to find other
businesses whose content reaches
you and borrow those techniques.
At the same time, be realistic
about the time commitment you
and your team can make when it
comes to blogs or social platforms
like Twitter or LinkedIn.
SHOW THEM WHAT YOU’VE GOT
Depending on your b usiness,
your website could provide
a sample of your expertise
to readers, with the offer of
providing more—if they provide
contact information and agree to
hear your sales pitch.
STRIKE WHEN THE IRON’S HOT
Once you have a contact, move
fast. Evidence shows that
people are most open to new
opportunities early in the morning
and during the middle of the
week. Make sure your sales team is
ready to connect first thing in the
morning, especially on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
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