Do Not Let a Lack of Clarity Cloud Your Vision

Better days are ahead! But right now, we are all operating in a sea of constant change and uncertainty. Recent events are heartbreaking. The days are long, and often plagued with small choices that can become overwhelming, confusing and hard to resolve. It is a challenge to stay focused. “Covid times” are testing our resilience. But I encourage you to not let any of this break your resolve.

As business leaders, we have an opportunity to look up, and to recapture long-held aspirations. We may struggle for clarity on day-to-day issues right now, but I have found this is a remarkable time to take the high view and refocus our respective visions. I am hearing wonderful stories of fortitude taking shape. For instance, there has been news about a St. Louis-based trade-show exhibit company that was facing imminent collapse. The conference industry has taken such a hard hit, yet the CEO gathered his team for straight talk about the company’s future. As their story was told, they collaborated and thought big. Besides tenacity, one thing they had a lot of in that tradeshow exhibit house was plexiglass. Their vision was clear – stay strong and unified until their industry reemerges. Today, that team is helping many businesses to stay Covid-compliant and in operation, with plexiglass. This company is thriving while they help others forward. They did not let a lack of clarity, even in the face of chaos, cloud their vision.

I am a communicator. Helping others to communicate with excellence is my passion and a significant part of my purpose. My vision is to use effective communication to help worthwhile organizations prosper. That is how StevensPR came to be. Right now, I am focused on helping companies to successfully re-engage in their respective markets and industries. Employee and corporate communication have become fragmented through disparate work environments, economic crises and goals turned upside down. Successful communication has never been more important.

I encourage organizations to protect their vision in challenging times. The “how” may change. A good vision compels a strategy that will stay the course in tough times. It enables others to do the same. It allows for flexibility that helps employees to see past the complexities of constant change and conflicting information. It enables individuals to stay focused and pivot as needed, just like our colleagues with the plexiglass.

Crises and issues will come. The Covid pandemic is a poignant and harsh reminder. Keep your corporate vision intact and have a stellar strategy in place. The benefits are immeasurable. Goals can always be adapted. A great strategic framework affords the flexibility companies need when challenges arise. A great strategic plan:

1)     Defines Mission and Direction, Underscores Core Values

2)     Enables Operational Effectiveness

3)     Impacts Market Share and Profitability

4)     Increases Sustainability and Resilience

5)     Enables Proactive Engagement vs. Reactive Response

Avoid letting circumstances dictate your strategy, this is your path forward when challenges arise. It is often difficult to see clearly in a time of constant, disruptive change. But do not let a short-term lack of clarity cloud your vision. Success is always closer than it seems.

Let’s communicate. I would like to help you achieve your vision.