Are we still going for ice cream?

One thing a leader must always do is cast vision. Constantly.

“If the last time you casted your vision was yesterday, you’re overdue.”

I’ve learned, and have been reminded recently, that gaps in communication often lead people to fill in the blanks with their own interpretations. And sometimes, those interpretations aren’t aligned with the original vision.

Imagine you communicate, “We’re all going for ice cream!” You leave the room for an hour, and when you come back, you find people have unraveled the certainty of the vision with their own insecurities, misunderstandings, or even passions and agendas.

• “No one ever eats ice cream EVER AGAIN!” someone shouts.
• “NO, ONLY I EAT ICE, EVERYONE ELSE EATS CREAM,” yells another.
• A third person just screams, confusing the vision to be a personal directive.

And you’re left saying, “Whoa, nothing changed. We’re still all going for ice cream.”

What happened? The time you spent in your head crafting the vision didn’t include anyone else who just heard it. But if others only heard it an hour ago, they aren’t as bonded to the idea as you are. You’re already several weeks deep into your ice cream vision, but they’re just starting to grasp it.

Likewise, even if you’ve cast the vision repeatedly, people change, things shift, priorities evolve. Unless someone has full agency and authority over the topic, they can still be derailed by fear, uncertainty, or perceived gaps in communication. They need a reconfirmation that the plan remains intact: we’re all still getting ice cream, together.

Don’t let them forget: Everyone is getting ice cream. Repeat it until it’s boring, or until the ice cream is eaten. Then move on to the next thing and cast vision about that. Continuous vision casting is crucial, because the things in people’s heads, the things you can’t see, are constantly shifting.