How To Connect Your Vision, Strategy and Objectives
And Drive Your Business Forward.
For managers of upstart or upscaling businesses, connecting your vision and strategy to your objectives (basis for OKRs) is like having a compass that points you toward success. It’s not just about setting a goal. It’s about setting the goals that align with where you want to go.
One day you decide to go on a road trip without a map, GPS, or even a destination in mind. It is well possible that you stumble upon some lovely places, but chances are, you'll end up having missed the spots you definitely wanted to see, lost, frustrated, and wondering how to get back home. Now, compare this car trip with your business journey. Without a clear vision and strategy tied to clear objectives, you might find yourself driving around aimlessly in the business wilderness, dreaming about the possible future and hoping to one day realise it.
For managers of upstart or upscaling businesses, connecting your vision and strategy to your objectives is like having a compass that points you toward success. It’s not just about setting a goal. It’s about setting the goals that align with where you want to go.
This connection is crucial. It transform your business journey from a bumpy ride to a much smoother cruise.
Your Vision Is Your North Star
Your vision is your dream, the big picture, the ultimate destination you want to get to. It’s the reason you wanted to become an entrepreneur in the first place. Whether it’s to build and sell your own inventions, be your own boss, create a sustainable future, or simply make life easier for your customers, your vision is your beacon.
But a vision without action is just a daydream. You need a strategy to turn that vision into reality. Your strategy is the roadmap that outlines how you plan to reach your destination. It’s the bridge between your dreams and the practical steps you have to take to achieve them.
Your Strategy Is Your Roadmap to Success
Think of your strategy as the GPS for your business. It takes your vision and plots a course, complete with directions, pit stops, and maybe a few scenic routes. A well-crafted strategy considers your opportunities, threats, strengths, and weaknesses (yes, the classic SWOT analysis but turned upside down) and sets the stage for your objectives.
But here’s where many businesses go wrong. They create a strategy and then set objectives that are a combination of everybody's wish list, solving yesterday's practical problems. It can even be worse as objectives clash. No you cannot eliminate inventory, buy components in China, reduce costs and deliver in 1 week. Then they wonder why the are unable to follow their strategy. Your objectives should be the stepping stones that lead you directly to your vision, guided by your strategy. If they’re not aligned, you’re just spinning your wheels.
Your Objectives Are Your Stepping Stones Towards Achievement
Objectives are your action items, the tangible goals that drive your business forward. But they’re not just random targets pulled out of thin air. They need to be rooted in your strategy and vision.
Imagine your vision is to build a skyscraper. Your strategy is the blueprint, and each objective should be a building block that supports the structure you’re creating. If your objectives are misaligned, you might end up with a lopsided building that’s more Leaning Tower of Pisa (although I've read somewhere it was build like that on purpose), if you even manage to build the first floor.
Why Alignment Matters
Aligning your vision, strategy, and objectives isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have. Here’s why:
Clarity and Focus: When your objectives are aligned with your vision and strategy, everyone in your organization knows where they are headed and how you plan to get there. It’s like having a lighthouse guiding your ship through the fog.
Motivation and Engagement: People want to work for a company with a clear purpose. When your team understands how their work contributes to the bigger picture, they’re more engaged and motivated. People prefer feeling like they’re part of something meaningful.
Resource Optimization: Misaligned objectives most of the time to wasted resources. By ensuring your objectives are in sync with your strategy, you’re making the most of your time, money, and talent. You are not throwing spaghetti at the wall hoping it sticks.
And above all in today's uncertain environment:Adaptability: In today’s fast-paced world, businesses need to be agile. When your objectives are aligned, you can pivot more easily without losing sight of your vision. It’s like having a flexible GPS that recalibrates when you hit a detour.
The Dangers of Misalignment
Now, let’s talk about what happens when your objectives are not aligned with your vision and strategy. Usually it’s when wishlists dominate the process. And the result is often disappointing. You might find yourself chasing shiny objects that do not add value, or worse, you might achieve your objectives only to realize they hardly bring you any closer to your vision. You even might end up further away than ever.
Misalignment can also lead to confusion and frustration within your team. If your objectives don’t make sense in the context of your strategy or even go against each other, you’ll end up with a disengaged workforce scratching their heads and wondering why on earth they had to spend their precious time and budget on them.
Bringing It All Together
So, how do you ensure your objectives are aligned with your vision and strategy? Start by revisiting your vision. Is it clear and compelling? Does it inspire you and your team?
Next, review your strategy. Does it provide a realistic path to achieving your vision? Does it make sense when looking at threats, opportunities? Do you think it is realisable given the weaknesses and strengths of your organisation? What should be improved?
Finally, examine your current objectives and running projects. Are they still in line with your strategy? Should they be altered? Do you need new objectives? Which ones to tackle first? Are the targeted results the ones to move your business in the right direction? Are they driving towards realisation?
And if you want to start an OKR process, these are the basic steps for a successful implementation.
Remember, this isn’t a one-and-done exercise. As your business and the envionment it's in evolve, so should your vision, strategy, and objectives. It’s a continuous cycle of reflection and adjustment. When you discover you are driving towards a cliff and there is no bridge,...
Ready to Master the Art of Alignment?
If you’re nodding along and thinking, “Yes, this makes sense, but how do I actually do it?” you’re in luck. We’re offering a mini mastermind designed to help you connect your vision and strategy to your objectives.
In this mastermind, you’ll learn how synchronise your vision/strategy with your environment and organisation, and set objectives that drive results. It includes practical tools and insights to transform the way you run your business in an uncertain and ever changing environment using an agile strategy with clear priorities and make it a well-planned adventure.
As a result, if you are planning to follow that methodology, you will have your first OKRs and a starting point for moving forward.
Join us and discover how to turn your vision into reality, one aligned objective with its key measurements (KR) at a time. Don’t let your business wander in all directions. Let’s chart a course for success together. Sign up today and take the first step toward a brighter future.
Remember, the best way to predict the future is to create it. Let’s get started!
MiniMasterMind : December 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19
How To Connect Your Vision, Strategy and Objectives
And Drive Your Business Forward.
6 Group Sessions,
Max 10 participants,
899 €
Six 90 to 120 min sessions on December 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19 at (16h UTC + 1). So you are ready for a good start of 2025.
15 min Questions on previous session
15 min Theory
15 min Private time, looking at how to use for your own business
15 -30 min Discussion about learning points, application, ….
15 min Theory
15 min Private time, looking at how to use for your own business
15 - 30 min Discussion about learning points, application, ….
Session 1: dec 3
What is an agile strategy and its elements.
Review strategy in light of TOWS.
What are your Threats and Opportunities. How to analyse and add to strategy
What are the Weaknesses and Strengths of your organisation. What are their priorities for improvement.
What does your agile strategy look like.
Session 4: dec 12
What are key results.
Difference with KPIs
How to use (target, learn, explore)
How many and priorities.
Starting from objectives, define key results.
Session 2: dec 5
What are objectives.
Objectives are not Business as Usual
How to use (target, learn, explore)
How many and priorities.
Starting from agile strategy, define objectives.
Session 5: dec 19
Analyse Objectives and Key results
Are they in line with agile strategy
Stretching successfully
Are there clashes
How get data, review
Remark: Content will be adapted in line with needs of the group
Includes Private coaching session
Session 3: dec 10
Refining Objectives
Session 6: dec 19
Next steps for implementation
90 min private session
Can be booked during or after the sessions but before Jan 30
I am Guido, and I've been where you are.
I understand the struggle of making a business successful, of delivering what you promised your customers, of becoming better and outperform expectations.
That is why I started helping founders. owners and entrepreneurs like you. My passion is to create a place where they can find the guidance they need, a place that fosters growth, collaboration and success.
A discovery environment, that does not present a long course with lots of theory, but short masterminds that let you experience the tools and that deliver a hands on support to take your business to the next level, building on my experience and knowledge.
I want to help you create the future.
Benefits You Can Expect
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A first version of your Agile Strategy
With an overview of Threats and Opportunities, combined with the Weaknesses and Strengths of your organisation. Ready to be reviewed and adapted based on what you learned from going for your objectives.
Clear, aligned objectives
You can explain them to your team, tell them why you choose them and have an overview for potential future ones
Key results to measure progress towards your objectives
Are you doing the right things right? Are you moving forward?
How It Works
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Step 1: Book your seat
Can be done up to 4 hours before the MiniMasterMind starts, if there are seats left.
Step 2: You will receive an invitation to the Upcoach platform
This is our communication platform. Here you will find as well the links to the sessions.
Step 3: Collaborate, create & excel
Be present in the sessions, ask questions in the forum, do your homework…