It's hot. In your head. And in the calendar. I still remember my summer vacations as a teenager. When it was raining cats and dogs in Vienna, the radio would play "Wann wird's mal wieder richtig Sommer?" by Rudi Carrell. Today? Today we almost long for the reason for this song.
Because we are currently sizzling in the shade at almost 40 degrees - and not just outside, but also inside and mentally. Because heat is also building up in the heads of many managers.
I myself prefer to cool down after a long day at the office with a good book by the lake. My current summer read: "Clockwork" by Mike Michalowicz - in the revised 2nd edition. The recommendation came from my success buddy Andreas Lier, who even wrote the foreword.
And what can I say: the book is a real wake-up call. It's not feel-good blah-blah - it's tough food for thought. For example, there's this sentence that snapped me out of my summer lethargy: "Do less to achieve more." Boom! Immediately highlighted in orange.
And that's exactly where the question comes up that catches up with me as a manager, as a self-employed person and every entrepreneur sooner or later:
What is actually your Big BANG?
In other words: What really drives you? What is your mission? What is your Big Promise that only YOU can make to your customers? The one main thing that your customers value about you and your company?
Why smart leaders shape their future before others determine it for them
Recently, I was sitting with an entrepreneur who couldn't work in peace for five minutes at a time. The cell phone rang. An employee knocked. An emergency in production. Then an email from the customer with changed delivery deadlines.
He said: "I don't know where to go any more. I'm working, working - but for what exactly? And of course, nobody does it as well as me." He is not alone. Many managers know this feeling:
Lots of movement - but no clear goal. Full calendars - but no strategic direction.
No help - because no one can do it as well as you can. And at some point the quiet question: Is that it now? Or could there be more?
If you don't have a goal, you become a driven person
Why visions are not a luxury idea
Operational managers in particular often dismiss the topic of vision. "I don't have time for that", they say. Or: "That's something for the management." But a crystal-clear vision saves time. Because it focuses energy. It helps to prioritize. And it shows the team what is worth the effort.
3 reasons why you should clarify your vision now
1. common goals = bundled power
A team that knows what it is working towards is more efficient. It makes better decisions - because it knows the framework. Especially in industries such as surface technology, where external conditions and customer requirements change quickly, a clear internal compass is needed. This is the only way for teams to remain flexible - without getting lost.
2. future viability through adaptation
Those who think long-term plan for change. Innovation does not come about through stress, but through targeted impulses. A clear vision leaves enough room for new ideas - without losing sight of the goal.
3. security through strategy
Employees need orientation. Especially in turbulent times. A strategic vision conveys this: We have a plan. This creates trust - and a realistic, optimistic view of the future.
Tip: Develop your big promise to your customers.
Take a conscious look at the question: What does your company really stand for?
What do your top customers value most about your company? Not (just) as a marketing slogan. But as an inner guiding principle. Your big promise is the basis for all other goals - operational, strategic and personal.
Leadership requires reflection - and a sparring partner.
Many entrepreneurs and managers try to find their direction on their own.
But the greater the pressure, the harder it is to maintain an overview. This is exactly where a sparring partner comes into play. Someone who asks specific questions. Someone who can distinguish between emotion and logic. Someone who recognizes where things get stuck - and who helps to translate the vision into tangible goals.
I work with managers who no longer want to run in a hamster wheel.
Instead, they want to create clarity. Make decisions. And want to future-proof their team, their company.
