We all do the same thing: we get energized about new ideas, new possibilities. But then we take a look at the immediate reality of our bank account (or profit and loss statement) and we immediately feel that these new ideas are a "waste of time". But there is an error here: we forget how the current reality was created.
The reality we observe today is the result of the thoughts and actions we took in the past. If we don't like what we see now, why would we want to continue on the same path?
And then there is the issue of other people who did not take part in the development of the new ideas. As a first reaction, they will throw a wet blanket over anything new, sometimes with the best intentions: to protect us. Other times it is out of fear and judgment; "You haven't done so well in the past, so let's not go crazy here..."
Often, we don't even need others to cut our vision short; we have our own disbelief running in the back of our heads, "it would be nice but..."
How do we answer that negative little voice? We need to anchor our vision in practical term and see how the plan might unfold and how all the pieces could come together. Remember a real plan is more than a budget derived from last year's numbers adjusted by "reasonable" percentage. That kind of plan goes to the bottom drawer to then never resurface for the entire year.
No. You want to put some reality behind exciting new concepts; you need to get a picture of how all the organizational aspects come together to generate the desired outcome. That includes both the measurable items that accounting captures and the intangibles, such as how motivated your people are, how they communicate among themselves, how much they trust each other. Create enough "reality" around your vision, so it can guide what to focus on and so that you begin to believe in the plan.
Equally important, others in the organization need to believe in the vision as much as you do. Do not make the mistake of concocting the vision on your own, and then presenting it to your team in all its glory, expecting people to line up behind a concept they are just discovering.
Granted sometimes it works. Particularly if what you propose requires no great leap of faith. But if you need everyone to think about their work in a new way, you will need to include them in the design. If you don't, you will encounter a lot of friction when it comes to implementation. You will also discover as is always the case, that the group is capable of finding better solutions than you alone can.
Having a new vision and then planning for it is an opportunity to bring your team together to experience that they have common ground and expectations. Best of all it gives them a practical road map to develop a more successful reality. The process has to be genuine. Participants need to know that their contribution matters and will be taken into consideration. To make your vision a reality, it needs to be anchored in something that everyone can believe in.