How to Remain Focused and Flexible in Turbulent Times

Of the Six Pillars of Passionate Leadership, Pillar #3 is a Dynamic Vision Focus. Just as the captain of a ship remains clear on the ship's destination and then navigates based on the dynamic conditions of the sea, you as a leader must be clear on your vision and, at the same time, remain flexible on how to realize the vision. This is especially critical during turbulent times when it's easy to get caught up in fire-fighting and lose sight of the reason for which the organization was created.     

So how do you, as a leader, remain both focused and flexible in turbulent times?  

Start with Vision Clarity
When was the last time you re-visited your organization's vision and mission?  If they're posted on your wall, stop now and read them. If they're in a desk drawer, pull them out.  If you can't find them, locate them immediately. These are your ship's compass and rudder.  If you don't have them at your side, you can't steer the ship.  

If your vision and mission statements are outdated or stale, make a plan to revise them. 

If your organization hasn't yet delineated a vision and mission, there's no time to waste.  Get it done.

Regularly Align the Team with the Vision
Adopt creative ways to infuse team meetings and one-to-ones with the organization's vision.  Here are some ideas:
-Start team meetings by asking someone to share what the vision means to them.
-Regularly remind teams how their work fulfills the vision. 
-When recognizing individual performance, specifically state how they are contributing to the vision.
-Host a personal vision statement workshop in which team members write their own vision statements and then have them identify how their vision dovetails with the organization's vision.

Filter Opportunities through the Vision Lens 
While a ship's captain is clear on the ship's destination, they're keenly aware of their lack of control of the wind and sea swells. Thus, they expect to have to adjust their course based on weather conditions even as they stay focused on their final landing place. 

This is where the "Dynamic" in Dynamic Vision Focus comes in. 

For non-profit and service organizations, funding, staffing, regulatory and political pressures all contribute to turbulent waters.  In such times, it's imperative for leaders to remain clear on their vision AND be able to adjust their course, BUT only after filtering immerging opportunities through the vision lens.  Doing so reduces the likelihood of chasing "shiny objects" for short term gain at the expense of long term impact.

One non-profit leader I know is successfully resisting the pull to access additional government funding for a service she knows will not create the desired long term impact for their clients.  Instead, she's partnering with a public sector agency on new program development that more fully aligns with the organization's vision and mission.  

Your organization's vision should paint a highly compelling picture of a desired future.  It describes the impact your organization seeks to have.  Your mission supports the vision by defining the field on which your organization seeks to play to fulfill the vision.  

Maintaining a Dynamic Vision Focus allows you to effectively navigate the choppy waters you're sure to encounter as you lead your team or organization toward maximum impact.

About the Author

Gayle Ely is a Leadership Coach, Trainer and Facilitator and founder of Total Life Leadership. At Total Life Leadership, we partner with purpose-driven non-profit leaders and service entrepreneurs to help them answer the question “How Do I Become a Better Leader?”

Using The Six Pillars of Passionate Leadership, we equip leaders to be the best they can be.  The result is a passionate leader whose team and organization are operating for maximum impact.

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