Stop saying 'help' and state the future in vivid detail
Imagine your team as a ship you’re captaining toward an island full of treasure. You’re not setting sail for vague horizons—you’re steering for a golden cove just beyond the coral reef, where X number of families celebrate each day with a shared drink of lemonade. When you say “help people connect,” yes, you’ve got a broad direction, but it’s like pointing in the general direction of an archipelago. Now, if you conjure up a single, memorable destination—“a lemonade cup in the hand of every neighbor on our block”—everyone knows exactly which island they’re rowing toward.
Concrete visions stick in our minds because they invoke images: the clink of cups, the aroma of fresh lemons, and the happy murmur of conversation under a warm sky. When a manager brings up vision repeatedly—on whiteboards, in emails, and during every kickoff meeting—the team breathes life into it. They imagine the final scene: thirst-quenching smiles in every neighborhood.
Without a vivid future, decisions become ad hoc. Should you ship this feature? Should you hire someone who’s brilliant at project management but hasn’t touched a pixel? It’s hard to know. When everyone can sense the endgame, every decision filters through a shared lens. Every feature is weighed against whether it brings the lemonade closer to thirsty hands.
Great organizations—from startups to global brands—are built on vivid visions. Apple wanted a computer for every desk, Airbnb sought a spare room in every city, and Elon Musk dreamt of housing us all on Mars. None of these were achieved through endless to-do lists alone—they were achieved by fixating on a bold target that inspired action. By scripting your team’s future in realistic, sensory-rich terms, you make your vision impossible to forget.
Picture the moment you’ll celebrate success—hear the crowd cheer as they sip your lemonade under the sky. Recall your vision each morning and remind yourself of the exact images you painted. Then share those images with your team: post it on Slack, launch your next meeting describing it, or lean in over coffee and tell one person how vividly you see it. Watch how this spark turns ordinary work into purposeful momentum.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll shift from abstract goals to a vivid, shared vision that aligns daily actions with long-term aspirations. This will foster clearer decision-making, stronger team buy-in, and measurable steps toward an inspiring outcome.
Sketch the world you’re building
Describe your ideal outcome
Take five minutes to write one or two sentences that capture exactly what success looks like for your team in six months. Use concrete images—think ‘group of friends sharing moments across the globe’ instead of ‘enhance engagement.’
Identify key measures
List two or three metrics that make your vision measurable—for example, ‘monthly active users in new markets’ or ‘resolved customer tickets under 24 hours.’ These numbers anchor your vision in reality.
Share it everywhere
Put your vision statement on the first slide of every team deck, in your email signature, and on your whiteboard. Repeat it often so everyone remembers it, even newcomers.
Invite feedback on your vision
Ask a peer or a direct report, “How would you describe our goal to someone new? Where do I need to clarify?” This helps ensure it’s crystal clear.
Reflection Questions
- What concrete image would make your vision unforgettable to your team?
- Which decisions in the past week would have been different if you’d had a vivid target?
- How can you remind yourself of your vision every morning?
- What metrics will tell you you’ve arrived at your island of success?
Personalization Tips
- A sales manager turns “drive revenue” into “close ten deals worth $50K each by Q4” to rally her team.
- A teacher reframes “improve grades” as “each student reading at or above grade level by year’s end.”
- A parent sets “healthier family” as “we’ll have three home-cooked dinners each week for the next month.”
The Making of a Manager: What to Do When Everyone Looks to You
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