A vision can be loosely defined as the detailed mental image of things to come. Possessing a vision is paramount for any organization since it gives a sense of purpose and meaning to the organization members.
As such, it is imperative that in any setting there be a leader who comes up with a future plan and then steer his followers towards its achievement.
This paper sets out to emphasize the importance of not only having a vision but also effectively communicating the same to the followers for the good of the organization.
Visions are often formulated by an individual or a group of people towards a specific purpose. As such, the visions may be highly personalized and may not necessarily conform to the desires of the majority.
As a leader, it is important to communicate such visions to the followers and convince them as to the need to embark on the proposals since it is the followers who will determine the success of the vision (Gill, 2006). This will act as a source of motivation and morale in their day to day activities.
Communication of a vision is a key step in establishing the character of the leader to the followers. The traits a leader posses determines the level of cooperation they receive from their followers Communicating a vision to the followers gives them a glimpse of what to expect from you as a leader and they judge you by the principles that govern your actions (Cartwright & Baldwin, 2007).
Personal character traits such as self confidence, honesty and trust can only be seen through their actions and ability to communicate with others.
According to Palmer (2008) sharing a vision of the future reassures the followers of better days ahead. In addition to this, it provides meaning and a sense of belong to the followers and other stakeholders as they deem themselves as part of something greater.
A shared vision inspires and motivates them to aim higher and employ extra effort so as to actualize the vision and make a significant difference in their own capacities. This in turn acts as a unifying factor and creates a sense of community between them.
In addition to this, communication of visions provides the followers with a theme of change or transformation. This is important especially in cases where a seamless transition is desirable. At the same time, the visions also help followers to understand what is expected of them and this helps them make reform and become more innovative.
Sharing the visions also assist in developing and shaping the culture of the organization. This is because a shared vision if embraced by all develops a life of its own and becomes part of the organization. This improves interactivity between members and they develop common values and beliefs as they all set target towards a common goal.
Gill (2006), further asserts that sharing of a vision with the followers equips them with referenced framework on how to actualize the same. For a vision to become reality there needs to be rules and regulations which act as guidelines to all members.
Communicating these to the followers smoothen the implementation process making it easier to achieve the set goals and objectives because every member receives clear directives on how to go about actualizing a particular vision.
This paper set out to highlight the reasons as to why it is important to communicate visions to the followers. From the above discussion, it can be authoritatively asserted that communication of a vision to the followers may mark the difference between a successful and a failed vision.
Therefore for any organization’s visions to become a reality, it is imperative that these points be taken into consideration for the benefit of both the leader and the followers in their quest for achieving organizational goals and objectives.
References
Cartwright, T. & Baldwin, D. (2007). Communicating Your Vision. Center for Creative Leadership.
Gill,R.(2006). Theory and practice of leadership. USA: Sage.
Palmer,E,R.(2008). Ultimate leadership: winning execution strategies for your situation. USA:Wharton School Publishing.