Aligning stakeholders with different viewpoints using a shared vision
Getting to a shared vision for stakeholders with different points of view is one of the most challenging parts of my work as a design strategist/ service designer. It might also be one of the most rewarding parts. It takes effort to identify what each stakeholder wants from the project and then how to combine these various objectives into a cohesive plan. In this blog post, we will explore how to design a successful common vision that aligns stakeholders from different perspectives and helps them work together as a team.
Why Alignment is Critical
In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, alignment among stakeholders with different viewpoints is critical for the success of any organization. It’s not simply about aligning numbers in a five-year plan, but rather about creating a common vision that guides the organization towards its goals. As John Kotter (2007) puts it, “A vision says something that helps clarify the direction in which an organization needs to move.” This vision may start off blurry but it can become something powerful and transformative. A shared vision is also one of the key disciplines identified by Peter Senge as necessary for creating a learning organization.
