Page 170 - Appreciative Leadership

The Courage of Inspiration 143

TABLE 6-2
FIVE CRITERIA FOR A COMPELLING VISION

1. It is desired. A compelling image of the future is something you want. Does

your vision, dream, or intention describe—in the affirmative—what people want
their future to be? Is it congruent with their collective core values?
2. It is inclusive. A compelling image meets the needs of everyone involved. It
transcends the hopes and dreams of individual people and groups. Does your
vision, dream, or intention reflect the hopes, dreams, needs, and wants of

everyone involved? Is it a shared image for the future?
3. It is a believable stretch. A compelling image is a stretch beyond the status
quo, and yet it is within reach. Does your vision, dream, or intention go beyond
the bounds of the status quo? Do you also believe it is possible to achieve?

4. It requires collaboration. A compelling image belongs to the whole and
requires collaboration in order to be carried out and achieved. Does your
vision, dream, or intention depend on others to achieve? Does it stimulate
collaboration?

5. It requires creativity and innovation. A compelling image of the future is an
innovative alternative to the present. Does your vision, dream, or intention
require creativity to be realized?

To strengthen your capacity for inspiration, practice envisioning
the world, your workplace, your relationships, and/or your results as
you would have them be. Visualize and speak of the future in as posi-
tive and concrete terms as possible. Invite others to share their hopes
and dreams with you, and together create your most enlivening and
irresistible vision for a better world.

Give yourself five minutes, now, to envision your
PAUSE
ideal world. Visualize it as you would have it be.
Make note of what you see.