Genuine leadership comes from the quality of your vision and your ability to spark others to extraordinary performance.
Jack Welch, American business leader and consultant.
Following on from authenticity, today we turn our attention towards the second characteristic we consider essential in any successful leader. Having a vision of where the team is headed, seeing the big picture as it were, and then being able to inspire the team to buy into the goal is down to the leader.
Others are engaged to transform the vision into a working plan. Managers, specialists and support staff will all play their part in bringing about the desired performance. They will be focused on precise aspects of the task, their roles crucial though limited by their specific duties. Breadth of vision is the domain of the leader.
Resisting the desire to micro manage each phase of the operation, the leader needs to trust the staff to get the job done. Getting tied up in details undermines the effectiveness of the leader, creates conflict with executives charged with undertaking such responsibilities and sends out negative messages concerning the long-term direction of the operation.
The vision outlined needs to be sufficiently inspiring to stretch staff to perform at least at their full potential, if not beyond previous capabilities. The leader understands staff motivation is not achieved solely by monetary rewards but rather by providing challenging tasks, the possibility to extend one’s skills and being part of something extraordinary.
Aiming for the mediocre and attempting to ‘just get by’ will never be enough for those visionary leaders who understand the rewards, the satisfaction of living, lie beyond what has gone before. The endeavour might well be taxing and the burden on the team almost unbearable. Yet with the leader’s vision and strength of character all may triumph.
There could be moments in which a low key approach is the best way for the vision to be unveiled. At other times the sheer magnitude of the idea demands a full blown extravaganza to get the idea across. In either scenario, the vision will capture the hearts and minds of those expected to implement strategies to achieve its being if the leader is held in good stead by his or her people, and has built up sufficient goodwill and belief of judgement for those to act.
This ‘people’ aspect of leadership often translates as empathy and will be the subject of the next posting. For now, let’s close with the words of the fashion designer Ralph Lauren
A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done.
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