PMI Canadian West Coast Chapter
Instilling an Effective
Vision Throughout
Your Firm
Mark S. Blamey
CEO, Cobalt Engineering
May 18, 2011
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
The Importance of Vision:
“Leadership is about going somewhere. If you
and your people don’t know where you are
going, your leadership doesn’t matter.”
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Effective vs. Ineffective Vision
Statements
“The vision provides guidance for daily
decisions so that people are aiming at the
right target, not working at cross purposes.”
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
A Vision That Really Works
 Significant Purpose: What business are you in?
 A picture of the future: What will the future look like if you
are successful?
 Clear values: What guides your behaviour and decisions on
a daily basis?
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Significant Purpose:
 CNN: hard spot breaking news business
 Disney: We’re in the happiness business
 McDonald’s: (ca. 1990’s) – We’re in the real
estate business
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
A Picture of the Future
• A mental image you can actually see
• Timeless
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Clear Values
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What do I want to live by?
How?
3 or 4 values at most
Rank ordered to be effective
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Shared Vision
• Created by the leadership group
• Focus on the organization’s larger purpose
and goals
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Vision Can Exist Anywhere in an
Organization
• Departments
• Teams
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Three Important Guidelines
• How the vision is created
• How it’s communicated
• How it’s lived
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
How Vision is Created
• Encourage dialogue
• Need input from those it affects
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
How it’s Communicated
• Not a one time activity
• Talk about it
• Refer to it often
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
How It’s Lived
 Be congruent with your vision
 Always focus on your vision
 Show commitment
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
How To Support Your People
 Remove barriers
 Ensure policies, practices, and systems make it
easier to act on the vision
 Hold people accountable for consistency
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Practical Tools
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Judging commitment
The Talent Code
Communication Matrix
The STARS Model
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Judging Commitment
 Get the right people on the bus (start by)
 One characteristic to gauge: Commitment
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
The Talent Code
(Sustained)
Ignition
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Deep Practice
Talent
Master Coaching
Ignition (Vision)
• Ignition is externally fired
• It must be sustained
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Deep Practice
1. Chunk it up
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Absorb the whole thing
Break it into chunks
Slow it down
2. Repeat it
3. Learn to feel it
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Master Coaching
1.
2.
3.
4.
The Matrix
Perceptiveness
The GPS Reflex
Theatrical Honesty
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
The Talent Code = LEAN
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Communication Matrix – How to Coach
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
The STARS Model
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
The STARS Model
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
A Picture of the Future
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
Sample Initiatives
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In-House REVIT Trainer
In-House Modeling Instructor
Strengthened Toronto staff
ESOP
Commissioning
Google Time
Vancouver office move
CRM Software
Client Survey
Annual Retreat / Quarterly Mtgs
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011
QUESTIONS?
Presented by Mark Blamey
Cobalt Engineering LLP
May 18th 2011