Page 9 - Leadership 20-1

V A E

HOW VISION, ALIGNMENT, AND EXECUTION

WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU LEAD BY JULIE K. STRAW

CRAFTING A VISION

One of the biggest diferentiators between skilled and unskilled
leaders is their efort and ability to craf a compelling vision of
where they want to take their groups. In one study, we asked
3,574 people to rate a specifc leader in their organization and tell
us if that person creates a strong vision for the group’s future. At
the same time, we were able to measure how well-regarded that
person was as a leader.
TABLE 1. RATINGS OF WHETHER
LEADERS CREATE A STRONG VISION
FOR THE GROUP’S FUTURE
Rating Percent Who Do Percent Who Don’t
Best-Rated Leaders 87% do 13% don’t
Middle-Rated Leaders 32% do 68% don’t
of gaining buy-in for your vision and it is absolutely critical in
Worst-Rated Leaders 10% do 90% don’t moving from imagination to reality.
Adapted from The work of leaders: How vision, alignment, and execution will
change the way you lead, by J. Straw, M. Scullard, S. Kukkonen, and B. Davis, 2013. Bill George, Professor of Management Practice at Harvard
Copyright 2013 by Wiley. Business School and former CEO of Medtronic says, “Te most
empowering condition of all is when the entire organization
is aligned with its mission, and people’s passions and purpose
Among the worst-rated leaders, hardly any crafed a strong are in sync with each other” (George, 2007, 180). Within an
vision for their groups. Conversely, 87% of the best-rated leaders organization, if teams do not have synchronization, they will be
put together a compelling vision for their groups. Having a completing tasks without bringing together passion and goals.
vision will take you to a new place. Te work of a leader is to lead Alignment conserves time and energy by making sure everyone
people somewhere else—somewhere that is not here. Leadership knows what they are supposed to do and why. It is about
is all about change. But change to what? Tat is why a vision achieving both emotional and rational acceptance of your vision.
is so important. Te leader needs to have a crystal-clear vision Alignment also provides a forum for questions and concerns,
of where the group is headed. How will the future appear? Te giving everyone an opportunity to feel a sense of ownership in
leader must know the answer to this question, whether he or she the vision. Alignment unites and excites people around a vision.
is the CEO or the team supervisor. Efective leaders know how important it is to have everyone on
How can you improve your ability to craf a vision? Our board. And yet, very few people actually have been trained on
research revealed that leaders who excel at crafing a vision do how to get alignment. Using our access to 3,500 assessment users
three important things: Tey fnd new opportunities through per day, we discovered that, when it pertains to alignment, both
exploration, they push the boundaries with bold ideas, and they experienced and inexperienced leaders are receiving very little
take the time to check their assumptions. Fortunately, most guidance. Sixty-fve percent of respondents state they received
people can learn to craf an efective and compelling vision little or no training or guidance in the practice of getting
regardless of their level in the organization. alignment. Only 5% of respondents stated that they received
a great deal of training. Efective leaders understand that
BUILDING ALIGNMENT alignment is not something to check of a to-do list. Alignment
In our VAE leadership model, building alignment is the logical is a dynamic, ongoing process that requires continual monitoring
next stage afer crafing a vision. Building alignment is the act and realigning as conditions and needs change.

LEADERSHIP Vol. 20.1 Spring/Summer 2014 7

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