Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.
~Henry Ford
A company’s vision statement serves as a guiding principle for every employee, shaping their actions and decision-making. It outlines the strategic direction and guiding principles of the company in an ambitious and aspirational manner, fostering growth. The purpose of the vision statement is threefold; to define the organization’s goals and objectives, to motivate employees to take risks, and to encourage the organization to work toward a future state.
However, employees may not always connect with or fully embrace the high-level vision of the company. This is why it is crucial for teams to develop their own vision. When teams in the marketing, sales, finance, or project development teams create their own shared vision, collaboration becomes more effective. Whether problem solving or decision-making, teams are more productive, and more likely to reach consensus when their conversations lead to the development of a shared vision.
Companies consist of teams responsible for achieving organizational objectives across all departments. Collaboration is key to a team’s success and emerges when effective conversations lead to a shared vision. These conversations require mutual respect and a sense of partnership. Everyone must feel a part of the corporate culture, building strong alliances with colleagues and senior leadership.
Sharing opinions and expertise through collaboration and cooperation adds value to a meeting and creates a positive work environment. A shared vision ensures there won’t be an ‘unhappy minority,’ as the team will be able to reach consensus. Developing and embracing a common goal helps teams find a sense of purpose and direction for their work. It also leads to team members feeling appreciated because their voices have been heard, valued, and considered.
Teams are better able to develop a shared vision when they understand the importance of individual commitment to a group effort. While forming partnerships may seem intimidating, the effectiveness of teams in achieving goals is substantial. Leaders should encourage and require everyone to speak up. Common goals and values emerge through authentic conversations that share personal visions. Open dialogues and brainstorming are what guide a team in creating a shared vision. To paraphrase Helen Keller, we accomplish more together than we do alone.
The path to developing a shared vision begins with open and honest conversations. An effective conversation is a back-and-forth exchange of ideas, embracing what others say, asking questions, and understanding different perspectives. In contrast, ineffective conversations resemble monologues where individuals speak without building on others’ ideas or engaging in meaningful dialogue.
A shared vision is the best way for teams to collaborate and cooperate, facilitating goal achievement in both problem-solving and decision-making. Leadership must support and encourage teams to have authentic conversations. Asking and answering questions, valuing others’ input, and respecting their perspectives are fundamental characteristics of productive collaborative teams.
Collaboration opens the door to new possibilities. While a company’s vision is typically fixed, a team’s vision must be flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances, market conditions, and evolving needs of the team.
The key to a successful team is embracing a goal that everyone supports. Conversations, Collaboration, Cooperation, Compromise and Consensus allow teams to develop shared visions that naturally lead to the successful accomplishment of their goals. It begins with effective conversations, which embrace active listening, perspective taking, and inquiry. This leads to the creation of a shared vision that allows teams to work both collaborate and cooperate in decision-making and problem-solving. A shared vision provides teams with the tools needed to compromise by meshing ideas on the path to consensus.
