What's your VISION?

Most employees aren't really sure what they're working for, they show up and get the job done; the expectation, to get paid.  A Successful SUPERvisor knows that in order for maximum productivity and team/department success, they must provide the employee with more than expectations.  Great leaders do this by creating a vision. 

vi•sion [vizh’n] (visions)

1.  eyesight the ability to see

2.  Mental Picture

an image or concept in the imagination; visions of power and wealth

3.  Something seen in dream or trance

4.  Far-sightedness

the ability to anticipate possible future events and developments 

A vision paints a picture of what success looks like to your team, your department, your company and you.  Below are three examples of visions painted by successful leaders that almost everyone is familiar with:  

·         Hope and Change—President Obama

·         I have a dream—Martin Luther King, Jr.

·         Landing a man on the moon & returning him safely to the Earth—Pres. Kennedy      

A vision can establish direction, set the pace, increase productivity and improve employee satisfaction when shared with and approved by your employees.  The key is to do so in a way that will hold your employees interested and involved!  For example, a manager who oversees a production department that has a high risk for injury may share his/her vision of throwing a pizza lunch party after going 30 days without an accident.  This vision holds the employee interest by offering an incentive to meet the goal.  It keeps the employees involved by motivating and holding them accountable to practice safety first.  This vision also has the potential to inspire employees to come up with new and improved safety solutions and can give employees the feeling that they are part of something bigger then themselves should a successful SUPERvisor take it as far as educating employees on the negative impact injuries have on the entire company and the positive effect employees can have on the entire company when 30 days without an injury happens.   

"The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It's got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion." 

--Theodore Hesburgh, President of the University of Notre Dame

Take Action:    communicate the vision, state direction, involve and challenge the team to go for it!   

·         Communicate - articulate clearly on what your vision looks like.  Think “show & tell”

·         Direct – give direction; work with your team on creating a road map, set a timeline 

·         Get Busy - Work, Work, Work with your vision in mind

·         Reward - recognize hard work, good work and accomplishments with kind words, thank you notes, certificates or prize incentives 

·         Repaint - as your team and department begin to grow, reevaluate your vision and make sure that it all still applies.  Let your team know that it is okay to repaint the vision as you grow.

Keep On: 

·         acting out and aligning your values with your company values and those of your employees.  Walk the talk.

·         delivering the VIP Treatment

·         being the Expert Extraordinaire

·         giving and continue to establish a good reputation

·         copycatting the SuccessfulSUPERvisors of your past

·         telling yourself that you’re a Super SUPERvisor!

·         believing.  Remember, you’ve made the conscious decision to lead