Leadership: Finding The Vision

We know that a leader is someone with vision, as well as the drive, determination and commitment to achieve that vision.

So, in order to lead, the leader needs a vision.  The leader has to perceive that something needs to be fixed or a goal needs to be reached. That “something” may not be recognized by others or it may be so challenging that no one else has the courage and confidence to tackle it. But it becomes the focus of the leader’s attention. The leader can imagine what the world will be like when the goal is reached or the problem solved. The leader can see it in bright colors.  That means they can set out on the path towards it with eyes clearly focused on the goal.  

The clear vision in bright colors in the leader’s mind is key to success. But the vision does not have to be one with all the detail filled in. Generally good leaders are not focused on details. What the leader needs is the ability to see the big picture. Leaders have open minds and feel comfortable asking open questions about that bigger picture. They know the detail will be filled in on the way.

Leadership and developing a vision requires creativity. And creativity is there somewhere inside each one of us. You may have to work quite hard to find it, of course. But it is there. If you don’t think you are creative, then go out of your way to do something new, go to new places and meet new people. You may be surprised by the new ides that spring up in your mind as a result.

Remember, it is finding the vision which stirs the passion, the inner sense of drive and the commitment that is required to be a leader.  

Wendy Mason  is a Career Coach and Life Coach helping you to solve difficult problems at work and at home
wendymason@wisewolfcoaching.com 
http://wisewolfcoaching.com

Top Cat is Away – Will the Mice Play?

 

 “I always find going on holiday an incredibly stressful experience. Not the trip itself, but finding the right time to go. There’s always something going on at work that you feel like you ought to be there for, or you worry about someone else being away at the same time, or… Well, ok, some of them are probably just feeble excuses for the fact that you just don’t want to leave your baby all on its own. But it is hard to find a good time.”

Do you recognise these words? Spoken or unspoken is this how you feel each year?

Most families take a holiday of some kind during the summer. But I’ve known leaders who don’t really join in.

Yes, the body is there but where is the mind? Oh yes, they leave the office for a week or so. They may even visit their villa abroad or a nice five star hotelsomewhere. But access to a phone service and good wifi are a priority and, back at base, they know to expect a call from the boss at least twice a day.

I wonder if these “supermen” (it does tend to be men) know how silly the blackberry and the laptop look when used on a sun bed. But, of course, they are much too senior for anyone to tell them. Do you know the fable of the emperor’s new clothes?

I’m not talking here about the poor middle manager whose boss only agreed to a break, if they agreed to stay in touch. I’m taking about senior people who don’t feel they have a place in the world unless their work needs them.

In this day and age, it is a dangerous way to think, even if you are at the top of the tree. It is dangerous for you in an age of uncertainty and it throws up questions about your leadership style.

Flexible organisations that can cope with a changing economic climate require distributed leadership. If a change happens locally, you need your local managers to feel empowered to lead a response from where they are without reference to you; you need them to take quick, clever action!

Have you have established a meaningful vision and a broad strategy to achieve it? Do your people feel empowered to make good decisions?   Have you treated them decently? So, shouldn’t you be able to trust them to make good decisions on your behalf?

If you have pointed the ship in the right direction, shouldn’t they know how to keep it going?  Certainly over a one or two week break. Of course you need to be available for a real emergency.

That just leaves you with the problem of how to impress your fellow holiday makers round the pool, of course. But I’ll leave you to meditate on that one.

I am Wendy Mason. I work as a Personal Development Coach,

 Consultant and Writer.I have worked with many different kinds of people going through all kinds of personal and career change, particularly those

• looking for promotion or newly promoted,
• moving between Public and Private Sectors
• moving into retirement.

I am very good at helping you sort out what you want, overcome obstacles and handle change. I offer face to face, telephone and on-line coaching by email or Skype

Find out more at   http://personaldevelopmentcoaching.net/

Email me at wendymason@wisewolfconsulting.com or ring ++44(0)2084610114 or ++44(0)7867681439 to find out more. 

Related articles

• Five Myths of Leadership (thinkup.waldenu.edu)
• What kind of boss do you have? (techwag.com)

Vision Statement

Your   vision;

1. Articulates your dreams and hopes for your business.
2. Reminds you of what you are trying to build.
3. Captures your passion.
4. Defines your purpose and values.
5. Should be your inspiration.
6. Determines your priorities.
7. Is a long-term view.
8. Defines the way the  organization will look in the future.
9. Sets the direction for your business planning
10. Influences decision making and the way you allocate resources.
11. Is for you and the other members of your organization.

Your vision is not

1. A map to tell you how you’re going to get to the promised land
2. For just for one year or two
3. For your customers or clients although it can be shared with them
4. Owned by you alone.

Visions only work if you share them with others – spread the Power, spread the Purpose, spread the Passion.

Formal Definition – A vision statement is an aspirational description of what an organization would like to achieve or accomplish in the mid-term or long-term future. It is intended to serve as a clear guide for choosing current and future courses of action. See also mission statement. Courtesy ofhttp://www.businessdictionary.com/

Related articles

• Leading Change – do you have a great vision? (wisewolftalking.com)

I am Wendy Mason. I work as a Personal Development Coach, Consultant and Writer.I have worked with many different kinds of people going through all kinds personal and career change, particularly those

• looking for promotion or newly promoted,
• moving between Public and Private Sectors
• moving into retirement.

I am very good at helping you sort out what you want, overcome obstacles and handle change and I would like to work with you! I offer face to face, telephone and on-line coaching by email or Skype Email me at wendymason@wisewolfconsulting.com or ring ++44(0)2084610114 or ++44(0)7867681439 to find out more or go to wendy-mason.com