Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM Feb_Mar 2019 | Page 12

FROM THE BUSINESS COACH BY MIKE HILDERBRAND, BS, MBA, CBC ActionCOACH of Galveston [email protected] www.galvestonbizcoach.com T PART 1 Is Your Team Not Performing Up to Your Expectations? he good news is that you have more control than you might think. It could be due to a lack of focus and clear direction from you. Leadership begins with painting a current picture of the future in the form of a vision. As the owner and leader of your company, you can determine what your business will look like years down the road. In his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, Steven Covey said, “Begin with the end in mind”. Think about the impact that your team could have on your company if they have an understanding of your long term vision, are guided by its presence, and are business that you can imagine. To be effective, you must believe in your vision and be passionately committed to its fulfilment. Your vision doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to your lifetime. For example, the vision for ActionCOACH is: “World abundance through business re-education”. Your vision is the overall strategic intent for your business, reduced to one or two passion-instilling sentences so that it is easily recalled and remains front-of-mind with your team. How do I communicate my vision to my team? A vision statement should be living, meaning it should be communicated everywhere in as many creative formats as possible. Imagine every member of your team stating your vision accurately and immediately upon being asked! When hiring, one of the selection criteria should be how willing the candidate is to identify with your vision. As the owner of the vision, be constantly looking for innovative ways and opportunities to communicate it. As you do, your team members will follow suit. energized by drawing from your passion! By now you might be asking: how do I communicate my vision so that my team embraces it, is energized by it, and becomes more effective? Three steps: 1) Write a vision statement about that which you are passionate; 2) Creatively and frequently communicate that vision to your team; and 3) Always use that vision statement as a decision making filter and require it of your team. Of what practical benefit is a vision statement? When used properly, your vision statement can become the basis of your overall business strategy and decision-making process. Your business plan should spring from your vision. Your quarterly and annual plans should align with your vision. Every decision that is made in your business should be congruent with your vision. Your team should be in the habit of cross-checking their decisions and actions with your vision. So many success stories have evolved from one person’s passionate commitment to a vision and enlisting others to carry it out! A lack of vision and focused priorities is one of the reasons why businesses fail. Low team morale, absenteeism and resignations may be signs that the leader must clarify the vision and set priorities aligned with that vision. What is a vision statement? A vision statement is the longest term goal for your Next month in Part 2 we will discuss the importance of a mission. 10 MOMENTUM