But before the vision can be bought in to, it has to be developed. Ideally, that should be a managed process throughout which the staff is consulted, instilling a sense of ownership — although that is a luxury that many companies, particularly larger companies, do not have. At the very least, the heads of departments and senior management should set aside enough time together to discuss the strategic vision of their company, to create one if they’re running a new company, or in light of changing markets and products, to assess the relevance of the vision they already have.
Inevitably, many will see this as a waste of their time. They’re good at their job, they know what needs to be achieved, and they resent the implication that any touchy-feely, marketing-gobbledygook corporate retreat is going to make them better at it. But it is often the skeptical ones who stand to benefit the most from the exercise.
To make it work, it therefore needs the wholehearted support from the very top of the company. Ideally, it should be conducted by an experienced third party who can bring a dispassionate objectivity to the process. Money is well spent on hiring a training or consultancy firm for this. Putting all the senior executives in the same place — those who by nature of their positions are likely to be strong characters — and giving them free rein to voice and defend their opinions almost guarantees a relevant and important exchange of ideas. Even people who have worked together at the same company for a long time and who might be expected to have a similar vision will discover that they all have differing views of what the company is all about, where it is going, how it should get there and what it will look like when it does.
Julian K. Hutton is president of Merlin Hospitality Management, where he oversees the company’s hotel management and distressed asset management operations, drawing on 20 years experience in the worldwide travel and hospitality industry.
