The Power of Vision: A Tale of Three Stone Masons

*Posting for Chris while he is on the road

"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality." - Warren Bennis

Today I was reminded of a simple story that I love because it demonstrates the motivating power of vision and perspective perfectly.

In a small village, three stone masons toiled away at their craft.

A curious passerby approached each of them, asking what they were doing.

The first mason, wiping sweat from his brow, grumbled, "I'm cutting stone."

The second, with a shrug, replied, "I'm earning a living to provide for my family."

But the third mason, eyes sparkling with passion, proclaimed, "I'm building a cathedral that people will admire, enjoy and worship in for hundreds of years!"

This story illustrates the transformative power that comes from a change in perspective.

As shop owners and managers, you have the opportunity to inspire your team by painting a picture of the greater purpose behind their work.

When your employees feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves, their motivation and quality of work soar.

Here are a few real world examples that demonstrate this truth...

As one shop owner shared with me recently, "I want to pull a bunch of cars in here."

This simple statement encapsulates the vision of a thriving, bustling shop.

Another owner emphasized the importance of getting the right customers in the door—a vision of serving the ideal clientele and building lasting relationships.

To cultivate a shared vision in your shop, consider these practical strategies:

Clearly define and communicate your shop's goals, vision, values and purpose regularly. If you need help with this, there is a custom GPT in the Shop Owner's AI Toolbox inside the Technician Find Community that will help you do this in a few minutes.
Involve your team in setting targets and celebrating milestones along the way.
Recognize and reward employees who embody your shop's values and contribute to its success.
Lead by example, showing enthusiasm and dedication to the vision you've set forth.

Remember, as a leader, your perspective and the way you communicate it can make all the difference.

Like the third stone mason, you have the power to inspire your team to build something extraordinary—not just to fix cars, but to create a legacy of excellence and service.

A nice side bonus is that top talent outside of your shop will notice too and this will help you build a deep bench.

Keep leading with vision.

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