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TOOL COVER STORY VISION

Original created by David Sibbet, The Grove Consultants International

What is the most amazing future you see for your company (and yourself)? Who has the boldest vision ever? Imagine how you will appear on magazine covers. What’s the word on the street? Creating a cover story will help you get into a future state of mind.

For more information on the cover story, read: Visual Meetings by David Sibbet

WHAT THEY’LL WRITE ABOUT YOU

The Cover Story Vision^® Canvas challenges you and your team to project yourselves in the future: how will the world respond to what you have accomplished at that time. Mind you, this tool will (probably) not provide you with a turnkey vision. But it will challenge you to think beyond the realm of the known and safe. Why else would there be a story about your company in one of the world’s bestselling magazines? This canvas will provide you with plenty of material you can use when formulating your actual vision. Furthermore, because it’s tactile and visual, the vision canvas will elicit tons of feedback.

MAGAZINE (OR EZINE)

To get started, huddle as a team (or, even better, multiple teams) and have a thoughtful discussion about what magazine you’d like to be featured in once you’ve achieved your vision. It’s important to have this conversation, as the tone, voice, and readership of the particular magazine make a big difference. Whatever you decide on, you’ll find this conversation fun and stimulating.

HEADLINES

Once you’ve decided on your magazine, move on to the headline. What are the biggest, most inspirational headlines you can think of? How are you changing the world (or at least your organization) with your idea? This article will talk about your major achievement, but will also recount the story of where you started and how you got to your a-ha moment. What’s the bottom line, the facts and figures that support the headline? Capture those as well.

As in any magazine article, there’s going to be some kind of interview component. What questions will be asked? How will you answer? How will your skeptics show up? What are people saying on social media?

Now comes the fun part! Draw your story. Magazines are very visual. Make your magazine cover story visual as well. Who or what’s on the cover? How will this grab the reader (i.e., your team)?

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DOWNLOAD Download the Cover Story Vision® Canvas from www.designabetterbusiness.com

CHECKLIST

 You shared your cover story with your colleagues.

 You made your vision concrete with a engaging and visual cover.

 You stepped out of your (and your company’s) comfort zone.

 You created a vision that can be realized in 5 years.

NEXT STEPS

 Make your cover story concrete by using 5 Bold Steps Vision^® Canvas.

 Check how this vision resonates with others.

VISION HACKS

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ASK THE CUSTOMER

Look at your vision from a fresh perspective with new insights. One way to do that is to ask some of your customers to help you with the 5 Bold Steps Vision^® Canvas. What do they expect you to do? What is important to them? You’ll be amazed how honored customers are when you invite them to think about your future!

VISION MOODBOARD

Collect a bunch of magazines and pass out scissors and glue to everyone on your team. What would happen if you would make a mood board about your vision? You can use the structure of the 5 Bold Steps Vision^® Canvas (vision statement in the middle, themes surrounding, 5 steps + values underneath). This provides excellent conversation material and a beautiful “painting” of the first steps toward your future vision.

VISION MAGAZINE (COVER STORY)

Have your team work on a vision magazine.

Collect what people think. What is their vision? What themes surface?

Design a cover that reflects your future: the big impact you will have on the world. Publish and distribute the magazine throughout your company. The best fire starter ever. (See also “Cover Story Vision^®” on page 64.)

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START WITH STATEMENTS AND THEMES

Another way of working with the 5 Bold Steps Vision^® Canvas is starting with the vision statement already filled out, including the supporting themes. The focus of the teams can be shifted to an in-depth exploration of the themes. Each team also needs to define the 5 bold steps for themselves. See the ING example on page 60 to read more about their experience with this approach.

START FROM SCRATCH

One way of going at it is to give your teams a blank canvas and see what they come up with. Get together and discuss and sync the canvases. This is a great way to get additional insights and design a better vision.

SHARE YOUR VISION (VISUALLY)

The 5 Bold Steps Vision^® Canvas is a great blueprint for a concise story on stage or as a visual representation (see the ING case on page 60).

The best way to build up your story: start with the vision statement; show how it is substantiated by the vision themes (rank them). Explain how each theme will show up. Finish by explaining what steps you need to take to get there.