Hello everyone! 👋

Welcome back to our newsletter, where we've been going into the details of each module in the Thinking Differently training series. 💡

So far in this deep dive series, we've talked about how important it is to clearly define the problem before starting to explore potential solutions. We also covered how to avoid some common pitfalls once you're ready to start brainstorming to lead to more productive outcomes. Last time, we covered how to use prioritization techniques to decide how to move forward. You can find previous newsletters on our Resources page.

Today we'll talk about the important process of translating your project visions into actionable steps to drive progress.

Vision vs Mission?

Before we dive in, I want to talk about the difference (or lack thereof) between vision and mission because l often hear them used interchangeably. Here are the definitions I resonate with the most:

• A mission statement focuses on the present. It describes the organization or team's current purpose, what it does, and who it serves.

   

• In contrast, a vision statement looks to the future. It provides guidance for the strategic direction and is inspirational, conveying the overarching impact the organization or team aspires to make.

The difference between them can be subtle. When you start crafting vision and mission statements, it can be difficult and cause some confusion. But you know what? I don’t personally think it matters what you call it or if you have both statements or just one. What truly matters is having a statement that inspires everyone involved to work towards a common outcome. 🚀

Let's Take a Roadtrip! 🚗

☀️ Summer is just around the corner, and I'm sure a lot of you are putting together plans for vacations and beach trips. Imagine that you want to go on a roadtrip with your family. Your vision for this roadtrip is more than just making it from one place to another; you want to create fun-filled memories that will last a lifetime. So how can you turn this vision into action?

🎯 Your next step should be to come up with some goals for your trip. Goals are overarching, strategic objectives that contribute to your vision. They are measurable and outcomes focused, and they define what you want to achieve rather than how you do it. So in this case, your goal might be to travel from DC to the west coast over the summer break. This gives you a clear direction from your trip and something that is measurable.

📍Now you're ready to define your milestones. Milestones serve as progress markers and decision points, and they can serve as good times to evaluate your progress and adjust your course if needed. For your roadtrip, you decide on milestones such as Nashville so you can listen to some live country music, Denver to take a photo by the beautiful mountains, and Las Vegas so you can take the family to a magic show and maybe spoil yourselves with a buffet. These are key points of progress that mark your journey’s success and form your roadmap (we'll come back to this soon). 

📝 To achieve your milestones, and ultimately your goals and vision, you’ll need to figure out which tasks you'll need to complete like packing your bags, booking hotels, refilling gas, stopping for snacks, and taking in scenic overlooks. Basically, these are the smaller and actionable steps that keep your journey on track.

This framework is something you can use for any initiative or project in your life. The overall process goes like this:

• Define your vision statement and ultimate purpose for starting this initiative.

• Set compelling and clear goals to steer your efforts.

• Trace your route with strategic milestones that mark progress.

• Break down the roadmap into actionable tasks.

It's about taking the driver's seat and turning your vision into focused action.

💬 "Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world."

-Joel Arthur Baker

Do You Need a Roadmap?

🗺 You can start driving without a roadmap, but it may lead to challenges along the way. You might miss turns causing you to backtrack. Or maybe you’ll get into some disagreements with your family on what cities you travel through. Without a clear plan, you risk wasting time and resources and impacting your family’s happiness, which could potentially mean that you don't achieve your vision. As Taylor Swift (and apparently Benjamin Franklin) said, "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

A roadmap provides you with a clear route to follow, helping you navigate efficiently and avoid unnecessary detours. With a roadmap, you can stay focused on your goals, reach your milestones, and create those cherished family memories.

However, roadmaps are not necessarily set in stone! When you are on your family roadtrip, you might make adjustments to your roadmap. Say you and your family make it to Denver, one of your milestones. And you realize how much your family enjoys the natural scenery. You all decide to swap out a planned milestone of visiting Las Vegas for a trip to the Grand Canyon instead. A roadmap is meant to offer flexibility based on changing circumstances and new insights. 💡

Ready to Transform the Way Your Team Works?

There are a lot of great collaborative tools and techniques that you can use with your team at every step of this process to turn your vision into action. In the From Vision to Action module of the Thinking Differently training series, you learn about and practice converting abstract ideas into concrete plans that drive progress and results.

If you're looking to increase the collaborative problem-solving skills on your team in a way that focuses on action, Thinking Differently could be the right fit for you. Email me directly at caitlin@thinklysolutions.com and we'll find some time to chat!

Until next time, keep thinking differently!

Caitlin