Create your shared vision for change

- Ready to discover your own vision, or idea for change? Let's start by accessing our empathic brain. It's important to be relaxed as we do this. Close your eyes. Place your hand on your lower belly below your navel. Take a deep, slow breath breathing in through your nose. Feel your belly rise as you breathe in. Inhale to a count of seven. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Exhale, two, three, four, five, six, seven. You can choose to pause this, and take a few more deep breaths if you need to. Stretch, and release any tension you feel. Keeping your eyes closed, imagine three years from now. You've been part of a change that inspires you. In your mind's eye, notice what happened. What's different? How does that make you feel? What's the impact of this on others you care about? Take a few minutes to jot down the answers. Remember, you can come back to this visualization anytime. Here are some other questions to help you create a vision for change. Who is a leader, a cause, or a change that inspires me? What's inspiring about this? When I'm working in purpose, what is a change I want to see happen? What is a current situation that frustrates me that I wish were different? As you jot down your answers, take a step back to see what's emerging. Pick the idea that has the most resonance for you, where you feel the strongest commitment, or energy. You can also try this exercise with a trusted colleague. Once you have the idea that most resonates, the next step is to formulate a vision. A good vision has four elements. The outcome is clear. It's a change for the positive. It's inspiring to you and others that you want to engage, and it causes others to want to help you make it a reality. Take a few minutes to jot down your vision. Does it inspire you? You can also choose to co-create a vision with your team. Share your idea of a better future with them. Let them help you make it even more compelling by listening to their ideas. Here is what our friend Anna on the Apollo project chose to do. She decided to talk with her boss. She shared her purpose and her idea to co-create a vision with the team. As she spoke about what inspired her, she realized it was easy to engage and influence her boss. She asked him, "In three years, "if we were to be hugely successful, "what would that look like? "Where do you see us today? "What would you like to see changed? "What would need to happen to create this positive change?" As she listened to her boss and then the team, Anna paid attention to the energy and excitement in the room. She noticed the ideas that created positive emotion in the team. The team co-created a vision that now has strong ownership and support. Their co-created vision is Project Apollo will deliver an app that will wow our users and be the best rated in the market. We will do this by engaging each team member to bring their best ideas, and creating a culture of collaboration and fun. Anna made a difference. Now, your turn. Who will you co-create your vision with?