Corporate Culture and Vision

At the opening ceremonies of EPCOT Center at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, FL, there was the usual glamour and fanfare typical of a Disney event. As they conducted the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony, though, there was one person noticeably absent. It was Walt Disney. Walt had died before the completion of his dream from health problems. It was up to his wife, Lillian, to handle the ribbon cutting pomp and circumstance. After the ceremony, a stream of reporters flocked around Lillian to ask questions about EPCOT. One reporter commented on Walt’s absence asking, “Isn’t it too bad that Walt wasn’t here to see this?” And Lillian looked at him and smilingly said, “Honey, you just don’t understand. Walt saw this first!”

What a great story (my favorite Disney story) about the truth in dreams and vision. We have long discussed the importance of vision in our leadership principles of corporate culture. Tom Peter’s in his book “In Search of Excellence” profiled several successful companies to determine what the foundation of that success was. In each case, it was a strong vision. Jim Collins in his book “Built to Last” (my favorite between the 2) said the same thing. Walter Bennis in his book “Leadership” also wrote about the catalyst for a companies success - when the vision is born.

But the true defining moment of greatness for a company is that moment when the vision translates form paper into the hearts and the heads of the people. Because it takes people to make any vision a reality. When Martin Luther King gave his famous speech many years ago he said, “I have a dream!” What he was really saying is I have a vision! For he could see the future and he dedicated and sacrificed his life to helping others see his vision. And today, his vision is becoming reality. Through people. Now that was a leader.

Last month we talked about the believers in your company. Those individuals who still believe in what your organization stands for and what it means to be a member of your team. The believer’s message was simple. You either think, talk and act positively or you get out. The believers are the keepers of the vision. They are the ones who rededicate themselves to the realization of that vision everyday - even on the days they don’t feel like it. They are never without their “10” jacket.

For your organization’s vision to stay alive, it requires people to make it so. Vision gives us a sense of purpose. It does not say that we won’t try new things or new programs. Change in an organization’s business plan does not necessarily mean change in its vision. Sometimes the business plan must change to keep the vision alive.