It’s no accident that we refer to incredible leaders throughout history as “visionary.” Whether we’re talking about Nelson Mandela or the Secretary of your HOA, the people and groups who make the most progress in a community are the ones who have a firm vision of where we’re going – together. That said, it can be difficult to keep your vision in mind through the daily drudgeries of holding a public position – expense reports, contract approvals, etc.
To start creating that vision for whatever community you serve, start by asking yourself questions like:
- What do I like most about my community?
- Who most exemplifies the values of my community?
- What do I want my community to look and feel like five, ten, or twenty years from now?
Consider conducting this exercise with the other leaders of your organization. See what common themes come up for people and where you might have some agreement. To make sure you’re staying the course, write the vision down and come back to it frequently – especially when making tough decisions. You can also use your newly created vision to set tangible goals, which help focus your efforts given your limited time and resources.
This comes naturally to some people, and they may even be doing it subconsciously. For others, it requires more intentional thinking since we’re not often asked to do this in our everyday lives.
An organization without a vision will most likely do the same work they’ve done in the past, leading to the same outcomes. Tiny democracies can be incredibly powerful in improving their communities, but only if they know where they’re going.