In Cambodia, an ancient statue carved of stone stands as a monument to the power of vision. Its four faces look simultaneously in four directions: forward, backward, outward and inward.
This statue, called "The Four Faces of the Future," serves as a powerful metaphor for the visionary organization. But many organizations emphasize only one view: looking outward to customers and the marketplace. However, without the other three perspectives, an organization cannot hope to realize its fullest potential:
- Looking backward focuses on the organization's history and "defining events" that shaped it.
- Looking inward identifies the core values that guide decisions at all levels of the organization.
- Looking forward means developing a vision and business strategies to direct and sustain growth.
