Leading An Accounting Firm

11Vision: Reality in the Future

“Vision without action is a dream. Action without vision is simply passing the time. Action with vision is making a positive difference.”

~ JOEL BARKER

A vision is a clear picture of how things will look at some point in the future; it should paint the picture of where you are going and how things will look when you arrive. A vision gives a sense of direction to everyone on the team or in the firm. A clear vision helps a firm resolve to stay the course over the long term rather than meandering in different directions in short bursts of activity with little results.

In this chapter, I’ll provide some of the benefits of vision and how it can help propel you and your team forward together. You’ll read a few examples of well-crafted visions and some of the stories behind how they were developed. You’ll learn how to craft a vision, even if you are not visionary. Finally, you’ll learn the importance of frequently communicating that vision.

Rick Anderson, CEO of the megaregional firm Moss Adams LLP in Seattle, WA, says

All our partners have a common vision and mission, so we are working together, and there is little waste of energy. In the business world, the competitiveness of our profession simply doesn’t allow for inefficiencies. So, everything you do needs to have synergistic opportunities. We have to make sure that our business objectives and our business offerings are absolutely consistent with what our clients want and need. We can’t sell our favorite ...