Preface

We are thrilled that our publisher, Berrett-Koehler, has asked us to write a second edition of Full Steam Ahead! It is one of the most important books we have been involved with over the years. The first edition was an international best seller, translated into twenty-two foreign languages. We’re delighted that the book has touched so many people.

In our work with organizations worldwide, we have observed that the biggest impediment to managers becoming great leaders is the lack of a clear vision—knowing who you are (your purpose), where you’re going (your picture of the future), and what will guide your journey (your values). Yet less than 10 percent of the organizations we have visited are led by managers who have a clear sense of where they are trying to lead people.

Lack of a clear vision is a problem because vision is the starting point of all leadership. After all, leadership is about going somewhere. If leaders are not working toward a shared vision, their leadership can become self-serving and, ultimately, fail.

Most of the people we talk with agree that vision is important. They know that without a clear vision, they are inundated with demands for their time that can pull them off focus and waste a lot of energy. They recognize the negative effect of lack of a vision, but they are unsure of how to create one. Yet in many organizations where a vision statement does exist, it turns people off. The statement may be found framed on walls, but it provides no guidance or, worse, has nothing to do with the reality of how things actually are.

If you have never had a vision—or if you have made a failed attempt to create one—this updated edition of Full Steam Ahead! can help you succeed. We have brought this seemingly complex subject down to earth, making it simple to understand and easy to apply.

In this expanded edition, we have added a chapter on sustainability, provided more detail on how to implement a vision, included more information on creating a team vision, and provided a new resource section at the end of the book that includes an assessment and game plan for creating a shared vision.

Whether you’re an individual seeking to live a meaningful life, a member or leader of a team, or the head of a multinational corporation wanting to guide your organization, understanding the key elements of a vision will help you manifest your dreams.

Yet this book is about more than merely creating a compelling vision. It’s also about making sure that your vision is shared, that it comes alive and continues to guide you on a day-by-day basis. Creating a vision statement is not just a one-time activity. As this book shows, visioning is a lifelong journey.

Whether it’s for you personally—or for your family, project, team, department, organization, or community, we hope you will apply these ideas right away, so that you can move full steam ahead!

KEN BLANCHARD 
JESSE LYN STONER