Visioning is a creativity tool which can be used to create a common direction of motivation for a group of people. This method is useful to build an creative environment. Using the visioning concept helps to:
- get an understanding of what you really want to achieve
- get the subconscious engaged before other creative session
- help define the problem as a vector towards a desired future
A vision is a ‘motivating view of the future’. It creates pull. It gives direction. For using this method it’s important to imagine a brilliant future. Leaders should think about what they are trying to achieve. Leaders should go out into the future and look around and see what is there. Stepping into the shoes of others and see, hear and feel as they do is also prerequisite for a good vision.
The most important thing of a vision is to make it memorable. A vision only works when it is remembered and is up-front and central in a leader‘s thoughts for most of the time – especially when they are making important decisions in this area.
If the vision statement is long, then it will not be remembered. If it uses bland words or motherhood-and-apple-pie statements, it will not be remembered. If it is the same be-the-best vision that everyone else uses it will be yawned at.
A good vision uses dynamic and emotive words that paint motivating pictures by using words like ’sharp’, ‘now’ and ‘value’. The phrasing should be in present tense to make it more immediate and the use of active verbs that talk about what is happening is necessary.
Visioning works because humans are an imaginative species and are motivated by what we perceive as a possible or desired future. It is also affected by our ability to recall thoughts. By making it easy to remember and associated it with stronger emotions, we make it easier to bring fully back into memory when it is needed. A good vision is both realistic and stretching. Too far into the future and it does not create pull. Too close to today and it is just another plan.
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