Connecting to Admired Leadership
The Ingredients of a Compelling Vision
Episode Summary
A conversation with Admired Leadership Partner, Carolynne Thomas, exploring how leaders can create and communicate compelling organizational visions that truly mobilize teams. Building on the premise that most strategic planning processes produce management-speak rather than inspiring direction, this session provides a practical framework for crafting visions with four essential ingredients: strong purpose, vivid imagery, credibility, and cultural resonance. Thomas challenges the conventional approach of developing strategy first and communication second, offering actionable insights for leaders who want their vision to create genuine intrinsic motivation rather than relying solely on extrinsic rewards.
Episode Notes
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Key Highlights
- The four-ingredient framework for compelling visions: Strong purpose (why do we exist?), vivid imagery (people can see and imagine the destination), credibility (prevents eye rolls), and cultural resonance (uses language that connects with your specific team)
- Strategic planning trap revealed: Most organizations develop strategy first, then try to communicate it - but once language gets "baked" into planning documents, it becomes nearly impossible to change the clunky management-speak
- The eye roll test: Before launching your vision, identify every policy, practice, or behavior that contradicts what you're saying - either eliminate them publicly or explain why you can't change them yet
- Leadership fatigue phenomenon: Leaders spend 6 months developing their vision and strategy, then get bored with it just as they need to start communicating it - "the song is in their head but not in anyone else's head yet"
- Making visions actionable: Your vision must be something your average team member can actually do something about in their daily work - if they can't see how they personally contribute, you won't create intrinsic motivation
Notable Quotes
- "You gotta keep the main thing the main thing" - everything you communicate should connect back to your vision and strategy
- "People will believe what you do before what you say" - contradictory actions will undermine even the most compelling vision
- "Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the mouth" - Mike Tyson's wisdom on why 5-10 year strategic plans may be foolhardy in today's world
- "Great place for great people to do great work" - a vision so memorable that an employee could recite it perfectly 10 years later at a new organization
- "You need to look for signals that you're not serious about your vision and strategy" - identifying and eliminating contradictions is critical for credibility
Featured Speaker
- Carolynne Thomas is an Executive Coach and Partner at CRA | Admired Leadership, specializing in strategic organizational communication and leadership coaching. She spends her time helping organizations mobilize around vision and strategy, working across both the leadership and strategic communications practices of the firm.
Resources Mentioned