Why on earth would you want to? Why are you doing that? What
is your reasoning for that?
It is possible that these questions are created from a place
of curiosity. It is also possible that these questions are created from a place
of knowing or judgement. I have asked those questions and I have been asked
those questions. There have been times when I have received those types of
questions with an open heart and willingly hearing them from a place of
curiosity. There have also been times that I have heard judgement and ridicule
in those very same questions. It is the receiver that is misinterpreting or is it
the sender that is creating the energy that is either curiosity or judgement.
Say yes. They are both true at the same time. Both sender and receiver create
the moment and the associated results. Neither one nor the other can create it
in a vacuum. There are no victims in any conversation. Everyone who is engaged
is responsible for the outcome. There is not an either/or interpretation, there
is always a both/and. These questions are centered around vision and curiosity
around vision allows for clarity, discipline, and consistency. When these
questions are asked, the answer should be able to be clearly articulated by
everyone involved on a project.
I have been spending time writing about vision and how a
vision, the imaging of successful outcomes, the imagery of celebration at the
result, can create and cause success. The vision, the purpose, the reasons
behind the project is what will drive the day to day, moment to moment
decisions. Clarity, discipline, and consistency in the vision, reason, or the
purpose of the project are paramount for success. It is true for individual and
it is true for projects. When an entire team is unified on the vision, when
there is clarity around what the vision is, when there is discipline in keeping
the vision at the center of every decision made, and when there is consistency and
alignment of each team members behavior, a project will succeed. Everyone involved
and impacted by the effort will know and celebrate the success. There are not winners
or losers when there is a shared vision of success. The client, vendors, team
members, leaders, and followers will all win when this type of alignment
occurs.
This is the leaders’ primary concern. The results will come
when the vision is strong. The results will come when there is mutual commitment
to the vision. The results will come when the project decisions are in
alignment to the vision. The results will come when everyone stands for the vision
of success for the project. The language used sounds similar when talking to
team members. The client, vendors, and team members are all “on the same page”.
They are clear on the decision matrix, the stakeholder matrix, the communication
matrix, and the escalation process. Communication begins to flow with ease as
there is not a win/lose, right/wrong, or good/bad mentality. There is one
outcome everyone is moving toward, a clear line of sight exists to the end
point, and everyone is moving in that direction.
It may sound difficult to achieve and it may be challenging to
believe that vision matters that much. Purpose or Vision is how small companies
become big companies. Books written about companies and individuals who have
differentiated themselves have a common thread. The way they differentiate
themselves is their vision, purpose, or their “why”. Considering the key
ingredient of success being vision, want, purpose, or the “what for” it would
make sense to spend time being clear on that one key ingredient. It is the
intention behind the actions that matters most. The actions become empty if the
purpose or intention is not articulated, shared, and known by all participants.
It is true for companies and people. When someone articulates their reason for
creating a business, for their career, or for what they do daily they are
speaking into their purpose and their vision.
I would also say that we frequently get lost in the words
associated with wants, whys, and what fors. I was once told that it was not important
what your vision was, just that you had one. It was not important what your
intention was, it was that you walk with it for some time to allow it to teach
you what you yearn to learn. The same is true for projects. The words do not
have to be perfect and paragraphs to explain will not create clarity.
Simplicity and a “less is more” attitude work quite well when articulating wants,
whys, and what fors. Establishing a robust vision that allows all aspects of
life to be aligned is exhilarating. Values become clear when they are rooted in
vision. Making decisions is easier and guilt and shame begin to disappear when alignment
to values driven by vision occurs.
Practice curiosity with your vision. Ask questions from a
place of childlike wonder to clarify you wants, whys and what fors. Practice
with each of your projects as well. Be curious about the reason for the
project, for the outcome, and for what the project is creating. Stay forever in
practice of being curious about the wants, whys, and what fors.
