Your Vision Doesn’t Mean Sh*t to Employees

CEOs love to talk about vision. It’s your big, ambitious idea for where the company is headed. It gives direction. It motivates. It brings a tear to your eye.

At least that’s what it’s supposed to do.

But for most employees, a vision statement is just noise. It’s an abstract concept floating above their daily work. And when a company keeps operating that way, it becomes a source of disengagement.

Trust me, I’m no Eeyore when it comes to vision statements. Having a vision is not the problem. In fact, Owning the Vision is one of the five core responsibilities of the CEO.

But vision fails when it’s disconnected from action.

The Gap Between Vision and Work

A broad, sweeping vision looks great on the wall, but what does it mean for the average employee? Without structure, nobody knows where they fit or what they’re supposed to do with it. While the leadership team cruises at 30,000 feet, your people are stuck in the terminal.

If your vision is to “dominate the market” (cue the eye roll), your sal…