One of the core roles of a leader is to give people something to move towards. By definition, leaders have followers—and those followers move in the direction of a vision.

The word vision comes from Anglo-French, meaning:

"something seen in the imagination or in the supernatural" - (“visionary | Etymology of visionary by etymonline,” n.d.)

In essence, vision is about seeing a potential future and inspiring action to bring it to life.

Almost every product, service, or innovation began with a vision—someone imagining something that didn’t exist, then moving themselves and others to create it.

At Cultivated Management, we focus on envisioning bright potential futures and aligning organisations around achieving them.

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This article first appeared in the Meeting Notes newsletter - Get One Idea a Week to Lead with clarity and cultivate workplaces that enrich the lives of all who work in them.

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Why Vision Matters

A vision is not physical—it exists first in the mind. But by imagining a better future, you can start to shape reality. Artists, inventors, and scientists often rely on vision to achieve breakthroughs.

All of my books, videos, and teams start with a vision. We rarely achieve it perfectly—but without one, we drift, guided by the visions of others rather than our own.

Vision, Creativity, and Communication

A vision alone is not enough. To bring it to life, you need:

  1. Creativity – the act of creating something that doesn’t yet exist, from products to services, innovations to business strategies.
  2. Communication – articulating the vision clearly, emotionally, and compellingly so others gather around it. Leadership is about inspiring action, not merely issuing orders.
  3. Critical Thinking – evaluating whether the vision is achievable, worthwhile, and aligned with resources. Not every vision is good; some may waste time, energy, and capital.

Effective leaders balance these three pillars: dream, create, and communicate intelligently.

Testing and Aligning the Vision

Throughout the journey, a leader must ask:

  • Does the work align with the vision?
  • Is the vision meaningful and achievable?
  • Are we using resources wisely?
  • When should we adjust or abandon the vision?

Good questions keep a business and its vision alive.

The Takeaway

Vision of the future is the starting point. It’s the dream of something better, meaningful, and important. With creativity, communication, and critical thinking, a leader can turn that vision into reality—guiding teams, shaping organisations, and achieving lasting impact.

If you can see it in your mind, you can begin to create it. Focus, attention, and deliberate action are the bridges from imagination to reality.

Bibliography

published, Y.S., 2021. Sleep technique used by Salvador Dalí really works [WWW Document]. livescience.com. URL https://www.livescience.com/little-known-sleep-stage-may-be-creative-sweet-spot (accessed 9.20.24).

visionary | Etymology of visionary by etymonline [WWW Document], n.d. URL https://www.etymonline.com/word/visionary (accessed 9.20.24).

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