Leaders Need to Share a Compelling Vision

Big picture stuff

The Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel Ceiling, by Michelangelo, 1508-1512 (Wikipedia - public domain)

“For I dipp’d into the future, far as human eye could see,
Saw the vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be.” — Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1842

We all appreciate attention to detail.

Teams and individuals who can spot errors and root out issues are valuable assets, saving us from embarrassment and headaches later on.

But without a clear and compelling vision — without a well-communicated plan — they’re going to be aimless.

Michelangelo’s work on the Sistine Chapel is the perfect example.

He created sketches to guide his work, which helped his assistants understand the enormity of the undertaking and how the frescoes would tell a larger story.

While we’re used to seeing single panels or even a zoomed-in shot of one panel, when we look at the work as a whole, it’s e…