Inspiring a Shared Vision

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. – Vince Lombardi  

The most effective leaders paint a compelling image of the future that is well communicated and embraced by their team.  Sadly, however, this is not always achieved -- 78 percent of US employees are not convinced that their leaders have a clear direction for their business or organization according to Gallup’s 2018 State of the American Workplace Report.

Quint Suder notes in Hardwiring Excellence that the most successful leaders, “connect results back to purpose, worthwhile work, and making a difference.” Inspiring a shared process is a key leadership competency cited by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner in their book The Leadership Challenge.  This involves multiple aspects including:

• starting with purpose

• bringing passion to your work

• imagining possibilities

• encouraging dreams

• giving meaning to work

• appealing to shared possibilities

• sharing best practices

• motivating others toward shared goals

• creating a positive workplace culture.

For Further Thought:   Do your staff have a clear understanding of how their role contributes to the greater business/organizational purpose?  What messages are you sending to your team?  What can you do to better communicate your vision and ensure staff buy in?

As a leader, you have an extraordinary opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives. Don’t underestimate your impact!

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