By: Guest Thought Leader, Tricia Jones, founder of Capacity Builder
Did you know only a small percentage of entrepreneurs remain successful beyond three years?
What sets successful entrepreneurs apart from the rest – especially the great ones – isn’t some magical x-factor or “something” gifted only to a select few. It is VISION! (excuse the caps but I’m talking about big, bold visions, not the ‘I want to pay my bills at the end of the month’ vision).
Think about it when you’re doing those typical entrepreneurial things like taking risks – to have courage, you need to know what you are being courageous for. Similarly, to be motivated, you need to know what it is that you are putting 1,000s of hours into mastering … and why.
Without a clear vision to focus on, the daily stresses and strains of being the boss will simply become too overwhelming, the excitement of building something from the bottom-up too daunting, and the safety of a permanent job more and more appealing.
The big picture
Entrepreneurs who foster a vision and spend a good amount of time determining what they want, inspire a compelling ‘towards strategy’, which is inherently more positive than an ‘away from’ strategy, leaving people feeling more motivated for longer periods.
But great leaders do more than just envision an exciting future. They help their team to see the ‘big picture’ and the essential role each individual can play in it. They inspire a shared vision. This is why most people tend to follow leaders who are future-focused.
“So, how do I inspire a shared vision, Tricia?” I hear you ask. Well, start with these 5 tips:
1. Schedule time for yourself to think about the past, the present, and how they both inform the future you hope to see for your organisation.
2. Invite your team to share what they envision for the future of the team and the business (use mind maps, collages and comics; it is called a vision after all).
3.Explore how and where each individual’s vision can align to create your shared vision.
4. Lastly, fight the fear (you are especially vulnerable if you stray away from your vision and towards the news headlines – economic woes, and political turmoil, etc.).
5. Focus on defining a clear, positive path for the future – one that reignites that spark you had when you quit the rat race and went on your own to change the world for the better.
About the Author: Tricia Jones is the founder and a managing member of the people-development and coaching business, Capacity Builder. She is a skilled business coach, facilitator and strategist with 10 years experience in the industry. Tricia is also a public speaker and hosted sessions at the HR and L&D Innovation and Tech Fest and EduWeek.
