If you want to make positive, future-oriented change in your organization you’ll need to go beyond writing long-winded paper visions and come to a shared agreement about what you are going to fight for together, and what steps you are going to take to get “there.” The 5 Bold steps vision ® canvas is a perfect tool to align teams in your organization. This canvas was created by David Sibbet, of the Grove International.
The vision canvas will help you co-design the vision as well as the 5 bold steps to achieve that vision. Additionally, using this tool, your team will be able to clarify what supports your vision, what challenges your vision, and what opportunities are created in working toward your vision. Best of all, the vision canvas will help you derive design criteria for your business model(s) and strategy.
A vision statement is sometimes called a picture of your company in the future. But it’s so much more than that. Your vision statement is your inspiration, the framework for all your strategic planning. When creating your initial vision statement you are essentially articulating your dreams for your business. This should stand as a reminder of what you’re trying to accomplish together. It may apply to your entire company or to a single division of the company. Whether for all or part of an organization, the vision statement answers the question, “Where do we want to go?”.
Probably the greatest aspect of the vision canvas is that your entire vision, including actions, supports, opportunities, and challenges, will be on one sheet of paper – not a book! It’s simple to share and easy to translate into concrete guidelines that decision makers (and executors) need to get their jobs done. Even better, creating a visualization of the vision, based on this canvas, will help you spread the word.
Regardless of the approach, you choose to compose your vision, you’ll need to involve the right people. This includes the decision-makers as well as everybody else! A vision without actions or ambassadors to carry the message forward is worth no more than the paper it’s printed on, no matter how well crafted.
What is the future state of our company? How are we going to help our customers?
What are the essential themes supporting our vision? Describe them in 1 or 2 single words.
How will the themes show up in our company? How will they make the vision themes concrete and how will they inspire others?
What are the supports that enable us to reach our future?
What are the challenges that hinder us from reaching our future?
What are the 5 bold steps to take in order to achieve your vision?
What are the crucial values that form the foundation for your vision and steps? How can we align those values?
Arrange for a comfortable environment. Surely not a meeting room.
Involve the right people, this includes the decision makers as well as other important influencers.
Checklist.
Arrange a relaxed, positive and private environment
Have markers (fine tip) and paper for everybody
Print or draw the canvas on a big sheet of paper
Have plenty of sticky notes and markers
Allow yourself 90 minutes of undisturbed time
A high-quality, practical, and inspiring vision for any organization should have three key characteristics: it needs to state where the company wants to be in the near future (2–5 years); it must contain a level of inspiration and excitement (the rallying cry); and it must detail the bold steps by which to achieve the vision.
Checklist.
Check to see how this vision resonates with others.
Incorporate the vision elements in thedesign criteria.
