July 2007 Deep Insights

Achieving desired results is often thought of as a masterpiece an artistic event, led by one person who has vision, charismatic charm, unequaled energy and insights to avoid obstacles. True, there are instances of such events but there are more that follow the process I describe.

First, a vision must be shared by all. It must be transparent to an organization, it must be the charismatic charm that drives people to a level of energy that is unequaled in past endeavors. The future directed by many not driven by a few.

Second, all leaders must be committed to avoiding obstacles not solving problems. They must create and maintain an environment where personnel are committed to open and honest evaluation of their actions as well as others. This environment is best orchestrated by creating ownership, recognition and thoughtful consideration of people’s individual desires.

Third, architecture to embrace this concept is designed through critical paths that establish what-who-when. The critical path establishes a timeline and intervention intersections guaranteeing information flow to avoid obstacles. It builds responsibilities for project participants that are transparent thus holding people accountable for their actions. It focuses everyone on results not effort yet allowing personal space for individual initiative. The critical path fosters teamwork, mental models for competent execution, while capturing and directing people’s efforts toward their shared vision.

TEAM vision, not SOMEONE’S vision is an artistic event lead by a process that rewards many not few.