By Todd Duncan

If you’ve ever spent time in London, enjoyed a weekend in San Francisco, or driven down Highway 99 on the way to Fresno, California, then you know what it is like to inch your way through a blanket of fog. Fog debilitates. It slows you down. You think you know what lies ahead, but when the fog clears, you are surprised by the reality of your surroundings. If you pretend the fog is not a problem— and you maintain your speed—you will meet disaster head-on.

It is the same with leadership. If your vision is “foggy” and you refuse to acknowledge your challenges, then you’re putting you and your team in jeopardy—and your future is most certainly on the brink of disaster. If you are working in such a fogbound environment, let’s clear the air and close the gap.

Listen to these words from my friend John Maxwell, author and motivational speaker:

“My observation over the last twenty years has been that all effective leaders have a vision of what they must accomplish. That vision becomes the energy behind every effort and the force that pushes through all the problems.” Here are four practical strategies for integrating vision into your team or company:

Strategy 1: The vision must be backed by the integrity of the leader.

People must buy into the leader before they will ever buy into the vision.

Strategy 2: Visions must have purpose.

This is the “why” in the organization. Starting today, get clear on why you are in business. Then tie your vision to your purpose, and make it happen. Vision and purpose must be compatible.

Strategy 3: Visions must be far reaching but attainable.

My friend Mike Vance worked alongside Walt Disney until Walt’s death. Mike told me that Disney never came up with a vision that was too far away from reality. In fact, the Disney Company is still working on some of Walt’s visions forty years after his death.

Strategy 4: Visions must be public.

Before a team can accomplish a vision, they must know where their leader is going. In return, with team feedback, most leaders can count on faster, more efficient progress.

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