What happens when the vision seems to fall apart?

Let's be real for a minute.  Not every vision makes it through to the finish line.  You toil over it, refine it and nurture it over time.  And then any number of things happens.  The funding doesn't come through.  Your position gets altered.  The powers that be change hands and now their new mission isn't in line with your previous expectations.  Any way you look at it, visions don't always survive.  

So what now?  Let's jump into some options you may have in front of you that you haven't yet considered.

Want to learn how to organize your own thoughts and begin creating a vision for YOUR Library?  Schedule a free call with me today and let's chat about it!

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO HAVE A LITTLE PITY PARTY!

Loss is loss.  I don't care how you look at it.  And our natural human nature is to grieve loss.  When we don't grieve our losses, we only suppress them and then they will inevitably re-surface at the worst possible times and in the worst possible ways.  So if you had a great vision for your Library but the funding got cut, get angry about it.  Take a minute to deal with that anger (in a healthy way of course) and process it.  If your position or your authority was pulled out from under you, then you have every right to grieve that loss.  It doesn't make you weak, only human.  

I personally find it very healthy to face it, process it, deal with it and then move on when the time is right.  Don't stay there too long though.  Afterall, you're a leader for a reason.  And eventually you have to move past your grief and act like the leader that you are.

DON'T TOSS OUT THAT VISION STATEMENT JUST YET!

Once you've dealt with your grief and you're ready to dust yourself off, go back to that vision you've written out and reevaluate it.  Depending on your situation, there may very well be ways to keep it alive in some capacity.  If it's all about funding, there are ways to start working on rebuilding your financial resources that you may not have considered yet.  And if you've lost your authority in the position you currently hold or held before, there just might be ways to revive your vision still.  So take a deep breath and start thinking outside the box.  Your leadership abilities are needed more now than ever before.

LOOK FOR CREATIVE WAYS TO FUND YOUR VISION

Let's assume the funds you had hoped for, just aren't going to be available to you.  What are other ways to start building up capital?  Are there places in your budget that could be cut so you can reallocate some funds to a special building-improvements category?  Can you petition people in positions of power to help bring in donations for your Library vision?  Do your research and find people and businesses that might have a vested interest in a community hub that would improve everyone's surroundings.  

Appeal to your community and patrons.  They may be willing to donate to your Library improvement project or even know others that may be interested.  People raise money these days for all kinds of things.  You just might be surprised at how many people actually love their local Library and want to see it succeed.

NARROW YOUR VISION DOWN INTO PHASES

If you do have some funding or you realize you will only have smaller amounts to work with over time, consider narrowing your vision down into phases.  Maybe you can't afford an entire renovation, but perhaps a new paint job would be a possibility.  And that kind of change can make a huge difference.

It may also be a benefit to you to decide what area or areas need the most help and tackle those first.  You might have a serious deficit in a more popular area that with a little attention and a few dollars, might improve it exponentially.  So make a list of most critical to least and decide how you might start chipping away at those.

APPEAL TO ANY NEW POSITIONS OF POWER

Let's say you've either lost your position in your Library or a new team of official has taken power.  You have a few options to consider.  If you've lost your position, you can always take your vision statement to the new members of your team and discuss with them what you feel needs attention.  This doesn't have to be a struggle for power, just a diplomatic and respectful conversation about where you believe the Library is headed and any ideas you may have had.

If it's a matter of new decision makers at the top, take charge of your leadership position and try to schedule a meeting with anyone and everyone on that team that may be interested in helping the Library grow.  Don't let their agenda get too full before you present your local Library needs to them.  It may be that they're already bombarded with requests and ideas that might outshine community needs that they haven't yet considered.  So be bold and ask for what you need.  You'll most definitely NEVER succeed if you don't take a shot.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The most important take away from this blog post is to hang onto your vision.  Keep turning it over in your mind.  Don't drop it until you have exhausted all efforts.  Keep refining it and making it relevant to the changes that happen in your Library and your community as time passes.  There are ways to find funding if you know where to look.  And there will always be someone who is just as interested in improving your community as you are.  Or at the very least, interested enough to hear you.  Keep fighting for your Library.  It IS important to more people than you may even know.