How to set the scene for a challenging vision

In today’s complex, fast-evolving market, service providers face an extraordinary challenge: how to stand out, not just by what they offer but by the meaningful impact they make in the lives of those they serve and our society. For those navigating complex change, this is more than a business goal—it’s a profound purpose that can redefine your entire way of working and inspire every person on your team.

Why Making a Meaningful Impact Matters

Imagine a future where your organization is successful and deeply valued because it truly changes lives. This vision is the cornerstone of sustainable success. It elevates your work beyond routine tasks and KPIs, infusing it with purpose and meaning that energizes your people and resonates with your clients.

Yet, embracing this vision requires more than good intentions. It demands a shift in mindset—a break from legacy thinking and established habits. The logic that once guided your organization must evolve to meet new realities, often feeling uncomfortable and uncertain. But it is precisely this discomfort that signals growth and transformation.

So, how do you lead your team through this challenging journey? How do you co-create a vision that is bold enough to inspire yet grounded enough to guide action?

Over the past twenty years, I have had the privilege of partnering with midcorp service providers to navigate this terrain. Through our Make Change Happen method, we have designed workshops and processes that unlock new ambitions, spark creativity, and set teams on a path toward a meaningful future. Here, I want to share the essence of this approach—three foundational elements that make the difference.

1. Define Clear and Impactful Outputs

Every journey needs a destination, and every workshop needs a clear output. When crafting a challenging vision, the minimum outcome should be a compelling vision statement accompanied by a handful of bold strategic steps—no more than five—that will drive the organization toward that vision.

To achieve this clarity, I rely on two powerful tools: the 5-Step Bold Vision Canvas and the OGSM model.

• The Bold Vision Canvas is a dynamic framework that helps teams draft a vision and outline high-level strategies quickly. It clarifies the choices and often serves as a standalone roadmap that teams can confidently follow.

• The OGSM (Objectives, Goals, Strategies, Measures) model takes this further by forcing concise articulation of vision and strategy. Its unique “objective by” rule is particularly valuable: it requires you to specify what you want to achieve and how you intend to do it. For example, “Deliver excellent customer experience” is a noble goal, but “Deliver excellent customer experience by leveraging new technologies” provides a clear direction that aligns the entire organization.

This specificity also enables measurement, allowing you to track progress and validate assumptions. It turns your vision from a hopeful aspiration into a measurable journey.

2. Embrace an Explorative Mindset

A bold vision is not a fixed destination; it’s a hypothesis about the future. It acknowledges that the path ahead is uncertain and that success depends on your ability to explore, learn, and adapt.

This requires a fundamental shift in strategy approach. Instead of relying on past best practices or fixed plans, you enter an explorative process where you embrace error and iteration. Your vision and strategies become guiding stars, not rigid rules.

Fostering this mindset is crucial during workshops. Participants are encouraged to venture beyond familiar territory, question assumptions, and experiment with new ideas. This journey is not about immediate certainty but about setting a direction and trusting the team's collective wisdom to navigate complexity.

A vital tool here is the creation of simple guiding principles—clear, shared values that help the team make decisions. Think of them as your travel guidelines on an adventurous trip: if “sustainable travel” is a principle, it shapes every choice you make, from transportation to accommodation. Similarly, guiding principles keep your change journey aligned and focused, preventing distractions and detours.

3. Design a Comfortably Discomfortable Process

Change, especially complex change, is inherently uncomfortable. It challenges deeply held beliefs and pushes people outside their comfort zones. If not managed with care, this discomfort can lead to resistance or disengagement.

The key is to design a process that balances discomfort with psychological safety—a space that welcomes vulnerability, sees failure as learning, and hears every voice.

In my experience, one of the most effective ways to achieve this balance is through LEGO® Serious Play® (LSP). This innovative methodology invites participants to build 3D metaphors of their ideas and stories using LEGO bricks. The tactile, playful nature of LSP lowers barriers, encourages creativity, and ensures inclusivity. Personal insights become tangible, shareable models that spark dialogue and deepen understanding.

After ten years of using LSP, I’m continually amazed by how it transforms group dynamics. It creates a safe container where discomfort leads to discovery, and complex challenges become opportunities for collective insight.

Bringing It All Together: The Make Change Happen Method

When these elements come together—clear outputs, an explorative mindset, and a comfortably uncomfortable process—they form a robust foundation for meaningful change in midcorp service providers.

Teams leave workshops energized, aligned, and equipped with a bold vision and actionable strategies. They understand that the journey ahead will be iterative and sometimes uncertain, but they have the tools and mindset to navigate it successfully.

This approach doesn’t just create plans; it ignites a shared purpose that motivates everyone to contribute their best. It transforms how organizations see themselves and their role in the market—from service providers to meaningful difference makers.

Your Next Step: Start Exploring Your Meaningful Future Today

If you feel the call to make a meaningful impact in your organization and market, consider how you might apply these principles:

• Clarify your vision and strategic steps using tools like the Bold Vision Canvas and OGSM.

• Cultivate an explorative mindset that embraces learning and adaptation.

• Create a safe, engaging process that balances challenge with psychological safety—consider methods like LEGO® Serious Play® to unlock creativity and inclusion.

Remember, meaningful change is a journey, not a destination. It requires courage to step into the unknown, trust in your team’s collective wisdom, and a commitment to continuous learning.

We’re here to walk this path, helping you design and facilitate processes that turn complex change into meaningful progress. Together, we can make a lasting difference.

If you’d like to learn more about designing your own bold vision workshop or explore the Make Change Happen method in detail, feel free to contact us.