Vision Getting Dim?

A recent conversation started with a typical question, "How's business?" The reply was equally typical and prefaced by a sigh, "You know (another sigh), same old / same old."

Clearly the person responding has "VCD" or "Vision Challenge Disorder." VCD happens when the vigor goes out of the company vision like air going out of a balloon. Maybe the original vision has been reached and the business is just coasting, maintaining the status quo, marching in place. The overall energy and focus of the organization has shifted from taking initiative and towards the security of sameness and "playing defense."

With no vision to focus on and no challenges to face, the staff gets frustrated. They flounder because there is no guiding direction to align their performance expectations; the business stagnates ? "You know (sigh), same old / same old." This stultifying attitude can be the beginning of the feared slippery slope ending ultimately in the demise of the business.

When VCD rears its ugly head it is time to reevaluate the company and its core foundational elements. Is the vision exciting, expansive, and energizing? If you look at the two previous sentences and yawn, your company has a VCD problem ? "you know (sigh), same old / same old."

Here is a four-step process to insure you don't let Vision Challenge Disorder enter your company.

1) See if your Vision for the company is still relevant ? if you don't have a Vision written out, that's a different, but no less important, problem.

2) Discover if your staff is aware of the Vision and if they believe it is still relevant.

3) Review your Vision, clarify it if it is indistinct, modify it as needed

4) Work on making that Vision your reality ? implement, implement, implement!

When the Vision is well articulated and integrated into weekly, monthly and yearly goals, the company will reenergize and look towards the future with enthusiasm, optimism and a renewed sense of purpose. Your clients will feel it, your competitors will fear it so dust off your Vision, polish it and enjoy your future.

Larry Galler coaches and consults with high-performance executives, professionals, and small businesses since 1993. He is the writer of the long-running (every Sunday since November 2001) business column, "Front Lines with Larry Galler" Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.larrygaller.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


6 Steps To Laying Out Your Competitive Strategy

Why do so many companies languish and watch as their... Read More

Consolidation in the Software Industry is Hardly New: Obsess About It or Risk Losing it All

Some analysts credit [Larry] Ellison with anticipating the consolidation in... Read More

Are You Ready To Go International?

Although North Americans were the dominant population on the Internet,... Read More

Business Plan Long Term Goals

Writing a business plan is not an easy endeavor, nor... Read More

Dayton, OH; Why your Company needs to expand there

In Ohio: besides the 3-Cs you should look at Akron,... Read More

What Every Service Provider Ought To Know About Writing A Business Plan

It's easy to lose sight of what needs to be... Read More

Expanding your business in a franchise system

If you are a successful franchise of a large franchise... Read More

Invalid Excuses for Poor Business Results - Rising costs

Note to Northwest Airlines ? It's not about fuel costsFor... Read More

Describing Intellectual Property in Your Business Plan

Most companies that are worthy of raising venture capital have... Read More

Invalid Excuses for Poor Business Results - The Economy

Note to Rite Aid and CVS: It's not about the... Read More

Mining Market Data

With a heightened awareness of opportunity, ideas can often be... Read More

Is Plan B Ready?

Business owners and entrepreneurs are, by nature, risk takers and... Read More

Dotcom Business Plans Archive Project

One of the most important initiatives in the domain of... Read More

SWOT Analysis Is No Magic 8 Ball

Q: A key investor in my business has suggested that... Read More

The Accountability/Alignment Process: Three Steps to an Accountable Organization

The Accountability/Alignment Process: Three Steps to an Accountable Organization Generating... Read More

Building a Better Brick-and-Mortar with the Billion-Dollar Web

More than $117 billion passed hands from Internet shoppers to... Read More

Business Results - Four Critical Success Factors

Scenario OneDuring a recent presentation, a business owner was given... Read More

Writing a Business Plan for Success in Business and for Funding

Writing a business plan to help you direct and manage... Read More

Don?t Allow Yourself to Get Burned

I am not a big fisherman, but I do enjoy... Read More

Business Plan Financial Projections: Stop Worrying About Being Right...

Business plan financial projections seem daunting because they are so... Read More

Nine Succession Planning Mistakes Small Businesses Should Avoid

1. Attempt Succession Planning Without Other Strategic Plans. Succession plans... Read More

More Uses for Your Business Plan

You have invested a lot of time and energy on... Read More

Strategic Planning and Total Quality Management

No matter what product or service you provide you will... Read More

Memo: Sustaining Growth in Your Business

What gets measured gets done.How do you keep your business... Read More

Action Planning

ACTION PLANNING: Action Planning is a process to develop strategies... Read More

Are You Aware of Planning in Business?

Human beings are rational agents. Rationality endorses one to take... Read More

Have You Identified the Enemy?

One of the most powerful driving forces in human nature... Read More

Turning On The Lights

Fun From The StartFor those with the will to start... Read More

GOT MEME? How to Attract Your Clients and Customers Attention

No "meme" isn't a typo and Got Milk, the more... Read More

When Do I Need To Hire A Business Plan Consultant

Every new business owner knows that a business plan is... Read More

Cost-cutting Essential to Maintaining Profits

Why cut costs now? Efforts are multiplying to cut costs... Read More

Innovate Today for Great Leaps Forward Tomorrow

How often does your company make a quantum leap forward?... Read More

Regroup - How To Do It And Why It Works

Regroup?is this a new management trend? Not a chance! Regroup... Read More