Do you set aside specific times to cast vision to your organization and other leaders?

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Mon, 09 May 2016 09:53:37 -0400

How often as a leader at different levels have you set aside time to provide your organization or company with a vision?

When is the best time to do this and how often should you cast your vision to the organization or other leaders within that organization?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2016 10:02 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 May 2016 10:02:02 -0400

As a squad leader, I'd talk with my team at least monthly about roles, responsibilities and more. As a Veteran, during projects I do so as often as I feel necessary - still every couple weeks.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2016 10:04 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 May 2016 10:04:27 -0400

My COL and I are both new to our organization. My COL has already expressed his Vision, and I am going to keep reinforcing it.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made May 9 at 2016 11:10 AM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Mon, 09 May 2016 11:10:17 -0400

COL Mikel Burroughs, once again, you are timely and on point regarding this relevant topic area.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 9 at 2016 12:08 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 May 2016 12:08:22 -0400

I don't know if it is used now, but back in the mid 90s whenever a bn or higher commander took command, his vision statement was one of the very first policy letters that was published. I talked about mine to several different groups of soldiers during my first week.

But I quickly learned that another management law overrides the vision statement. It's this one:

"An organization will continue to operate in the manner it has always operated until forced to do otherwise".

As my first weeks and months went on, I would see things that the subordinate units were doing that were contrary to my vision and policy statements. I'd go "CSM, didn't we put out the word on this?" and he'd confrim. But the fact is that it took a great deal of coaching, mentoring and sometimes more forceful emphasis to break old organizational habits. It's not simply a matter of taking command, saying "here's how we are going to do things now and here is our priorities" and then everyone starts acting in that manner the next day. There's a lot of organizational "muscle memory" that has to be retrained.

Another saying I liked was: "a vision without an implementation plan is just a hallucination".

Response by LTC Stephen F. made May 9 at 2016 1:01 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Mon, 09 May 2016 13:01:39 -0400

When I was in the military I occasionally set aside time in frequently busy schedules to focus on a vision for my units. After I recognized my need for a Savior in September 1987 and accepted what Christ did for me and all others so long ago, I spent more time and most importantly I asked God for help in establishing a vision fro my family first and my organizations second. The Bible clearly teaches that God's people perish for lack of a vision. If God's people are in trouble for lack of vision certainly everybody is in trouble without a vision.

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made May 9 at 2016 2:58 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Mon, 09 May 2016 14:58:12 -0400

I would tell my finance clerks that I will only settle for world class support:
1. Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
2. Provide superior customer service.
3. Do all you can within the constraints of regulations and laws to help soldiers.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 10 at 2016 9:45 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 10 May 2016 09:45:12 -0400

Normally once everyone is unbusy.

Response by SFC Randy Purham made May 10 at 2016 10:20 AM

SFC Randy Purham — Tue, 10 May 2016 10:20:56 -0400

Not only do I do something like this on a monthly basis, I also use that time to reflect on what has been accomplished, what did not get accomplished and a way ahead. Articulating a vision is very pinnacle in leading as it gives those junior and aspiring leaders a baseline idea of what to strive for in your absence. It also sets the pace for achievable milestones to occur in the process of reaching the culminating vision.

Response by SFC Craig Dalen made May 10 at 2016 11:49 AM

SFC Craig Dalen — Tue, 10 May 2016 11:49:08 -0400

I believe it is whenever you get some time and the unit needs to be reeled in.

Response by Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM made May 10 at 2016 1:44 PM

Kim Bolen RN CCM ACM — Tue, 10 May 2016 13:44:40 -0400

Colonel, I concur with all of these times but would add that every time is a time to lead and to re-adjust and redirect as needed.