Our Visionary is constantly bringing back major strategic pivots from networking groups that contradict our agreed-upon 1-Year Plan on the V/TO®. How do we use the V/TO® to filter these ideas without making the Visionary feel shut down?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Visionaries are naturally wired to seek out new opportunities and push boundaries. However, this creative energy can quickly derail your team's execution if it is not filtered correctly. To manage this, you must use your V/TO® and the role of your Integrator as an operational filter. When the Visionary returns from a meeting with a new strategic pivot, the Integrator must immediately hold it up against your agreed-upon 1-Year Plan and 3-Year Picture. Ask the Visionary how this new idea directly supports the goals you have already committed to. If it does not, the idea must be placed on the long-term issues list on your V/TO®. This does not mean the idea is bad; it simply means it is not a priority for this quarter or this year. This approach protects your team's focus and ensures that they can complete their committed Rocks without being constantly distracted by shiny objects. It also respects the Visionary's creativity by ensuring their ideas are documented and evaluated during your next quarterly or annual planning session, rather than being dismissed out of hand.