Vision and leadership seem inexorably linked. There are plenty of business books that address both of these topics and more than a few authors who make the case that without vision there is no leadership. I’m not going to argue the merits of this linkage or further the hypothesis by offering my own experiences and observations on the topic. Instead, with the pending New Year now just days away, I’ll offer a few thoughts on what it means to be visionary in the year 2009.
Vision is a verb in my vocabulary. While I agree that leaders need a strong sense of where they wish to move the organization, there is more to vision that just knowing the direction you are headed. What are the opportunities and threats that could affect your enterprise? Being visionary includes knowing how to assess both current and future circumstances. One opportunity that awaits many firms in the New Year is the chance to prepare leaders for the economic turnaround. It’s easy to cut training and coaching budgets when times are tough but is that really being a visionary leader? Now is the perfect time to invest in your organization’s future and hone the skills of existing and promising leaders. By offering these key persons a chance to grow you are assuring they will be ready to weather the storm and emerge stronger and better prepared than your competition.
Being visionary also means making decisions while never losing sight of the bigger picture. One of my talents is an ability to think strategically. When faced with a thorny problem or several possible solutions my brain is wired to see options and sense those that have a greater chance of success. If I follow those impulses without a 10,000-foot view of the future it is likely I will fail. Even the best and most logical conclusions won’t serve my clients or me when they don’t have context. That is why vision must be a shared process that invites others to offer their insights and pays attention to their needs.
Finally, if a leader is being visionary he or she will not just share the process with others but also inspire them to see beyond their personal and corporate limitations. In challenging times this can seem a daunting task, but clinging to the status quo won’t affect much real change. Leaders must also willingly examine how their own fears keep them from reaching beyond personal boundaries. Your stakeholders will be inspired to soar when you are willing to shake the dust from your wings and step off the cliff first.
The dawn of a New Year seems like a good time for reflections about vision. Instead of writing resolutions I invite the leaders who read this blog regularly to focus on being visionary. Consider the opportunities and threats you face, set a strong direction with shared insights from employees, clients, and vendors, then inspire those who follow you to affect real change. Visionary leaders aren’t born that way; they learn and practice disciplines that enable them to be more effective in their roles. So don’t articulate a vision, be a leader that lives it in 2009!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Hope and Optimism
As I write this week’s posting Christmas is just four days away. For weeks now the media has been inundating us with messages suggesting our economy and country are in the worst shape since the Great Depression and government leaders, including our president-elect, are likewise painting a picture of gloom and doom. Various taxpayer-funded bailouts have been implemented and more are being proposed to lift us from our malaise. During a season that is associated with hope and joy many of us are simply depressed or angry.
The dictionary defines hope as a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. To hope is to wish for something with the expectation of the wish being fulfilled. Sadly the voices of hope have been conspicuously silent during these challenging times. Leaders in every arena have failed to encourage and invite us to believe in ourselves and actually address the problems facing companies, communities, and the nation.
What would a message of hope sound like? First, I would suggest that being hopeful doesn’t mean we ignore reality. Telling people the truth and recognizing the pain of our current situation seems like a necessary ingredient for anyone who is seeking hope. A cancer patient facing treatment, families grieving the death of a loved one, or a parent reeling from the loss of their job share a common bond of anxiety and fear. Emotionally they must acknowledge their state of affairs while clinging to a belief that things will get better. Seeing a brighter future begins with the darkness that fills today.
Second, a message of hope depends on the support of others. Facing any obstacle alone is a recipe for despair and misery. Knowing that others care, hearing their kind words of encouragement, and experiencing their presence during our times of struggle can sustain us and provide a foundation for hope. When a business, government, or civic leader not only challenges us to believe in ourselves but also invites us to be part of the solution then the seeds of hope can sprout and grow. This thinking requires an optimistic outlook.
Optimism is a conclusion reached through a deliberate thought pattern that leads to a positive attitude. It differs from hope in that it is based less on emotion and more on putting actions and events in a favorable light anticipating a constructive outcome. Optimism and hope seem related in my way of thinking because we need both an emotional context and a practical approach to solve life’s toughest problems. While hope might be dismissed as blindly imagining a better future, being optimistic encourages us to actually see the obstacles as opportunities and work to create that same future.
I’m not suggesting that hope or optimism is easy or that either approach will quickly solve the incessant challenges we face as a nation. Many of us will first need to drink the bitter medicine of our own avarice and indifference. We must confess that spending what we do not have on things we do not need is at the root of our problems. There will be weeks, months, and maybe even a few years of real pain.
It will be the messages of hope and an optimistic spirit that carry us through and make us stronger. More than 2,000 years ago a message of hope was offered to a small group of society’s lowest class, peasants and shepherds. None of them understood the full measure of the words or what they witnessed. But they did act on the hope they were promised. Their willingness to share the message and optimistically embrace the possibilities that a new era was dawning has impacted our world in immeasurable ways. Are you, as a business and community leader, also committed to sharing a word of hope and living with an optimistic outlook? Your decision could also shape the depth and breadth of our current environment. Status quo or change the world, it’s up to you.
The dictionary defines hope as a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope is the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. To hope is to wish for something with the expectation of the wish being fulfilled. Sadly the voices of hope have been conspicuously silent during these challenging times. Leaders in every arena have failed to encourage and invite us to believe in ourselves and actually address the problems facing companies, communities, and the nation.
What would a message of hope sound like? First, I would suggest that being hopeful doesn’t mean we ignore reality. Telling people the truth and recognizing the pain of our current situation seems like a necessary ingredient for anyone who is seeking hope. A cancer patient facing treatment, families grieving the death of a loved one, or a parent reeling from the loss of their job share a common bond of anxiety and fear. Emotionally they must acknowledge their state of affairs while clinging to a belief that things will get better. Seeing a brighter future begins with the darkness that fills today.
Second, a message of hope depends on the support of others. Facing any obstacle alone is a recipe for despair and misery. Knowing that others care, hearing their kind words of encouragement, and experiencing their presence during our times of struggle can sustain us and provide a foundation for hope. When a business, government, or civic leader not only challenges us to believe in ourselves but also invites us to be part of the solution then the seeds of hope can sprout and grow. This thinking requires an optimistic outlook.
Optimism is a conclusion reached through a deliberate thought pattern that leads to a positive attitude. It differs from hope in that it is based less on emotion and more on putting actions and events in a favorable light anticipating a constructive outcome. Optimism and hope seem related in my way of thinking because we need both an emotional context and a practical approach to solve life’s toughest problems. While hope might be dismissed as blindly imagining a better future, being optimistic encourages us to actually see the obstacles as opportunities and work to create that same future.
I’m not suggesting that hope or optimism is easy or that either approach will quickly solve the incessant challenges we face as a nation. Many of us will first need to drink the bitter medicine of our own avarice and indifference. We must confess that spending what we do not have on things we do not need is at the root of our problems. There will be weeks, months, and maybe even a few years of real pain.
It will be the messages of hope and an optimistic spirit that carry us through and make us stronger. More than 2,000 years ago a message of hope was offered to a small group of society’s lowest class, peasants and shepherds. None of them understood the full measure of the words or what they witnessed. But they did act on the hope they were promised. Their willingness to share the message and optimistically embrace the possibilities that a new era was dawning has impacted our world in immeasurable ways. Are you, as a business and community leader, also committed to sharing a word of hope and living with an optimistic outlook? Your decision could also shape the depth and breadth of our current environment. Status quo or change the world, it’s up to you.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
It’s All About Perspective
This weekend my wife and I watched the movie “Vantage Point” a fast-paced action flick based on a plot to assassinate the President of the United States while he is attending a conference on combating global terrorism in Spain. As the scheme unfolds the story is rewound to the same 12:00 P.M. time and the scene is viewed again through the eyes of a different character. Only after all of the vantage points are revealed does the complete narrative take shape and the movie culminates with a spectacular finish.
Most leaders see only a portion of what is happening in their organizations. Some seem to purposely ignore the obvious signs of distress and make decisions that cause even greater damage. Others seek advice from only those most likely to tell them what they want to hear. A few leaders are wise enough to take time and ask those closest to the production lines, the call centers, and the customers what they would like to see happen.
Decisions made in a vacuum, or with only partial information, can be deadly in today’s volatile business environment. If customers have no voice, or we ignore their concerns often enough, they will take their business elsewhere. When employees are feeling anxious or angry, and management offers no opportunities for dialogue or feedback, productivity will suffer. Even top management will experience isolation and loneliness when the choice is made to view reality from only their perspective.
Problem solving requires that different behavioral styles, personalities, interests, talents, skills, and experiences are in the room together. If any voice is purposely or inadvertently silenced the results may prove disastrous. NASA learned this awful lesson when they dismissed the evidence that foam from the solid rocket boosters was hitting the Challenger spacecraft’s fragile ceramic tile covered wings. While they knew it was happening they ignored their own safety standards and believed the damage was minimal at best. That lack of perspective (ignoring a culture of safety to meet other mission objectives) cost the lives of the entire crew.
Depending on whom you speak with, our economy is in shambles and only the federal government can rescue it. Yet every day millions of Americans keep the country working and our businesses producing goods and services. Where is the perspective that innovative ideas and thinking could rescue us from our malaise? Whose voice is inviting us to see the possibilities and opportunities that always accompany challenges?
Perspectives matter and it is your vantage point that shapes the story. Leaders need to see every angle and imagine all of the options before a decision is made. The failures and mistakes of the past offer valuable insights as well. So if you are a leader facing challenging times perhaps the best thing you can do is leave your corner office and gain a new perspective of your reality. You just might turn your new vantage point into an advantage for your business.
Most leaders see only a portion of what is happening in their organizations. Some seem to purposely ignore the obvious signs of distress and make decisions that cause even greater damage. Others seek advice from only those most likely to tell them what they want to hear. A few leaders are wise enough to take time and ask those closest to the production lines, the call centers, and the customers what they would like to see happen.
Decisions made in a vacuum, or with only partial information, can be deadly in today’s volatile business environment. If customers have no voice, or we ignore their concerns often enough, they will take their business elsewhere. When employees are feeling anxious or angry, and management offers no opportunities for dialogue or feedback, productivity will suffer. Even top management will experience isolation and loneliness when the choice is made to view reality from only their perspective.
Problem solving requires that different behavioral styles, personalities, interests, talents, skills, and experiences are in the room together. If any voice is purposely or inadvertently silenced the results may prove disastrous. NASA learned this awful lesson when they dismissed the evidence that foam from the solid rocket boosters was hitting the Challenger spacecraft’s fragile ceramic tile covered wings. While they knew it was happening they ignored their own safety standards and believed the damage was minimal at best. That lack of perspective (ignoring a culture of safety to meet other mission objectives) cost the lives of the entire crew.
Depending on whom you speak with, our economy is in shambles and only the federal government can rescue it. Yet every day millions of Americans keep the country working and our businesses producing goods and services. Where is the perspective that innovative ideas and thinking could rescue us from our malaise? Whose voice is inviting us to see the possibilities and opportunities that always accompany challenges?
Perspectives matter and it is your vantage point that shapes the story. Leaders need to see every angle and imagine all of the options before a decision is made. The failures and mistakes of the past offer valuable insights as well. So if you are a leader facing challenging times perhaps the best thing you can do is leave your corner office and gain a new perspective of your reality. You just might turn your new vantage point into an advantage for your business.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Giving More with Less
This weekend was spent decorating the outside of our house for the holidays and shopping for Christmas presents, a ritual we tend to each year like millions of other families. The worsening economic situation in our nation has dampened the spirits of many merchants whose end of year profits are dependent on heavy consumer spending. Many families will be celebrating this Christmas season with fewer gifts and a more subdued outlook for the New Year.
Perhaps each of us would benefit from a different view about gift giving. Instead of finding the best deal on a flat screen TV, the latest video game, or that “must have” toy wouldn’t it be wonderful to give even more while spending less? Yes, there are important gifts that won’t break your bank account or add debt to your balance sheet. Let’s call them the “hidden gifts” but they are far from invisible.
These gifts begin with how we treat each other. In the workplace, the marketplace, or at home everyone deserves the gifts of respect and love. We can all be more truthful, more patient, and more caring. Everyone needs someone to listen to them, empathize with them, and forgive them. If we removed prejudice from our communities and celebrated diversity with joy that would be a hidden gift.
In a world gone mad with violence the gift of peace doesn’t have to be a dream. We can reach out in a spirit of harmony to the broken homes and families we know, offering love and support where it seems in short supply. In the uncertainties of job loss and home foreclosures we can plant seeds of hope and optimism. Perhaps we can remember our own times of need and anxiety and how good it felt to know that others cared.
Hidden gifts like our smiles, kind words, and acts of gratitude are inexpensive reminders of the true reason for this season. Many of us will quickly tire of the trendy gadgets received on Christmas day. Few of us can forget the memories of time spent with a friend dying of cancer or a day serving soup at the local shelter. We remember because these are the important things that connect us to each other.
I don’t expect everyone to abandon family traditions of gift exchanges and festive celebrations around food and drink. What I’m wishing for during this holiday season is more attention to the invisible (the “hidden gifts” of love, joy, peace, and goodwill) knowing they will produce visible results in the years to come. Let’s all give more of these gifts to our colleagues, customers, families, and friends!
Perhaps each of us would benefit from a different view about gift giving. Instead of finding the best deal on a flat screen TV, the latest video game, or that “must have” toy wouldn’t it be wonderful to give even more while spending less? Yes, there are important gifts that won’t break your bank account or add debt to your balance sheet. Let’s call them the “hidden gifts” but they are far from invisible.
These gifts begin with how we treat each other. In the workplace, the marketplace, or at home everyone deserves the gifts of respect and love. We can all be more truthful, more patient, and more caring. Everyone needs someone to listen to them, empathize with them, and forgive them. If we removed prejudice from our communities and celebrated diversity with joy that would be a hidden gift.
In a world gone mad with violence the gift of peace doesn’t have to be a dream. We can reach out in a spirit of harmony to the broken homes and families we know, offering love and support where it seems in short supply. In the uncertainties of job loss and home foreclosures we can plant seeds of hope and optimism. Perhaps we can remember our own times of need and anxiety and how good it felt to know that others cared.
Hidden gifts like our smiles, kind words, and acts of gratitude are inexpensive reminders of the true reason for this season. Many of us will quickly tire of the trendy gadgets received on Christmas day. Few of us can forget the memories of time spent with a friend dying of cancer or a day serving soup at the local shelter. We remember because these are the important things that connect us to each other.
I don’t expect everyone to abandon family traditions of gift exchanges and festive celebrations around food and drink. What I’m wishing for during this holiday season is more attention to the invisible (the “hidden gifts” of love, joy, peace, and goodwill) knowing they will produce visible results in the years to come. Let’s all give more of these gifts to our colleagues, customers, families, and friends!
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