As a leader, it’s easy to become obsessed with a grand vision. We know where we want to go and we’re all about telling people about it. We want to change the world, win a sector, or disrupt a market.
Unfortunately, the grand vision isn’t always tangible enough for everyone following you. It also doesn’t always lead to success. Here are four reasons why acknowledging the steps along the way is just as important as casting the vision.
Small victories communicate possibility.
Confidence builds as people see that it is deserved. If your sole focus is on the grand plan, then your constituents won’t know if you’re making progress until you’ve arrived.
As a visionary, you get it. Most others won’t.
Find intermediate destinations – or small victories – to celebrate. Your vision will seem much more of a possibility as people see that you’re making progress towards it.
Little wins build momentum.
Success breeds success. As confidence builds, lessons are learned and adjustments are made. It becomes easier and easier to achieve the next milestone.
Momentum builds one step at a time. It’s hard to stop a moving train. It’s excruciatingly difficult to push it forward in the first place.
Incremental steps provide increased predictability.
A rhythm of achievement provides for better planning. By learning what you can accomplish, what resources are required, and what time is needed, you can better plan for the future. Better plans lead to better execution. And better execution leads to ultimate success.
Small milestones allow for adjustments.
Planning isn’t just about timelines. Each victory is an opportunity to reassess and adjust.
No matter what your vision, your strategy for accomplishing it will be wrong. By developing and executing on a plan based on incremental steps, you will be able to refine your strategy as drastically as you need.
Dream big. Envision the future. But plan and execute in small, bite-sized pieces. It’s hard to oscillate between the two, but, it’s critical for your success and for communicating to those that you lead.