How to Cast a Strategic Vision in Uncertain Times

With summer winding down and fall quickly approaching, it’s time to look ahead and set your vision for next year’s strategy. Setting a clear and inspiring strategic vision is a crucial step in guiding your organization's direction for the future. You may have had a jump start on this while you reflected on your current strategy during the mid-year strategy refresh. (If you missed this, I encourage you to go back and take this critical step before moving forward).

For the past few years, it has been challenging for leaders to cast a strategic vision for their organization’s future when everything has felt uncertain and in flux. Yet it’s essential to distinctly define the overall direction and aspiration to propel your team through the next year.

Here are a few tips for setting the vision for your strategy:

• Don’t reinvent the wheel but improve upon it

  • Continuity is often just as important as innovation. You don’t need to start from scratch, and in fact in nearly all cases you shouldn’t. Look at what has been guiding your strategy and consider how this has made an impact. Building on the foundations of your current strategic vision can provide stability and demonstrate that past efforts were not in vain. It also allows you to capitalize on what has been successful while adapting to changing circumstances.

• Avoid shiny object syndrome

  • It's tempting to chase the latest trends, but this can lead to a lack of focus and a sense of directionless change within the organization. While it's essential to stay informed about industry trends, they shouldn’t sway your strategic vision drastically. Consider trends within the context of how they can support your vision, rather than allowing them to dictate it.

• Be inspirational, but realistic

  • An inspiring vision should stretch your organization's capabilities and motivate your team. However, it must also be rooted in reality. Setting an overly ambitious vision without considering your organization's current capabilities and resources can lead to frustration and failure. Strive for a balance between inspiration and realism, pushing the boundaries while acknowledging the practical constraints.

Incorporating these considerations into your process will help you develop a vision that inspires your team, provides a sense of direction, and sets the stage for building your strategic plan.

Need help with your strategic vision? Reach out here to connect for my services.

Next up: How to Build an Agile and Accountable Strategic Plan