Most leaders are excellent travel agents for trips they'll never take.
They can describe the destination in vivid detail. They've researched the route. They've calculated the costs. They've even inspired others with stories of what could be.
But they haven't bought the ticket.
And here's what happens: Your team knows the difference between a leader who's going somewhere and one who's just talking about it. They can sense when you're selling a vision you haven't fully committed to yourself.
The Commitment Gap
Vision without decision is just daydreaming with a business plan.
I see this constantly with leaders who have compelling visions but vague commitments. They want to "explore international expansion" but haven't decided which country. They plan to "build a world-class team" but haven't defined what world-class means for their context. They aim to "transform their industry" but haven't chosen which specific problem they'll solve first.
The issue isn't clarity—it's commitment. They know where they could go. They just haven't decided where they will go.
Your team isn't waiting for a perfect plan.
They're waiting for a committed leader.
They're waiting for a committed leader.
What Decision Actually Looks Like
Here's the difference between vision and decision:
Vision says: "We could become the leading provider in our market." Decision says: "We will become the leading provider in our market by December 2026, and here's what we're willing to sacrifice to get there."
Vision says: "We should really improve our culture." Decision says: "We're implementing weekly one-on-ones starting Monday, even though it will cost us 10% of our productive hours."
Vision says: "International expansion would be amazing." Decision says: "We're opening our UK office in Q3, and I'm personally relocating for six months to ensure it succeeds."
Decision has a date. Decision has a cost. Decision has consequences you're willing to accept.
The Leadership Test
Want to know if you've actually decided where you're going? Run this audit:
- Can you state your destination in one sentence that a 12-year-old would understand?
- Have you communicated what you're willing to give up to get there?
- Does your calendar reflect movement toward this destination this week?
- Would your team bet their own money that you'll follow through?
If you answered no to any of these, you haven't decided—you're still browsing.
Why This Matters Now
Your team has vision fatigue. They've heard too many possibilities, attended too many strategy sessions, seen too many plans that went nowhere.
What they're craving isn't another vision. It's a leader who has decided where they're going and has already started walking.
Because here's the truth: People don't follow vision. They follow leaders who are visibly moving toward a destination they've committed to reach.
Your Next Move
Stop crafting the perfect vision statement. Start making an imperfect decision and commit to being directionally correct.
Pick one major destination for the next 18 months. Not five. Not three. One.
Then do something this week—not next quarter, this week—that moves you irreversibly toward that destination.
Make it visible. Make it costly. Make it clear to everyone watching that you've stopped talking about where you could go and started moving toward where you will go.
The moment you decide where you're going, you become someone worth following.
Your team isn't waiting for you to have all the answers. They're waiting for you to choose a destination and start moving.
Where are you actually going? And more importantly—when will you decide?