Opportunity can come at times when we are lost and without direction. During these current turbulent times of furloughs, high unemployment and failing budgets we have the opportunity to review and redefine our systems and the way we do business
Opportunity can come at times when we are lost and without direction. During these current turbulent times of furloughs, high unemployment and failing budgets we have the opportunity to review and redefine our systems and the way we do business today. Now, more than ever, our successes are dependent on our effectiveness to influence our constituents and business relations and rally our efforts towards a vision that will remain strong and unified.
Warren Benis said, “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
Jim Kouzes and Barry Pousner speak of inspiring a shared vision in their body of work called the Leadership Challenge. Inspiring a shared vision is accomplished by envisioning the future and enlisting others in a common vision. Leaders survey the landscape, imagining the attractive opportunities that are in store when they and the people they interact with arrive at a destination. Leaders passionately believe that they can make a difference. They have a desire to make something better than it is today, change the way things are, and create something that no one else has ever produced.
Yet a vision seen by only the leader is insufficient to create a movement or significant change in an organization. People will not truly follow a leaders’ vision until they accept a vision as their own. Leaders cannot command commitment; they can only inspire it. What begins as “my” vision needs to emerge as “our” vision.
Through my experiences, I have found it to be the most difficult practice to achieve and yet my most productive outcomes have been materialized through it. A quick guideline can set you on the path to practicing successful visioning and productive outcomes. Here’s a quick overview of actions:
— Align your belief system and values with your vision. This establishes your passion with how you present yourself, building credibility amongst everyone you are in contact with.
— Clearly define your vision. Visualize and dream big, imagine the possibilities for a future that is inclusive of all.
— Write your thoughts out and build upon your vision with words creating a structure to your dream.
— Speak your vision. Learn to clearly articulate your vision to others. Share it with as many people as possible.
Leadership is a relationship between those who aspire to lead and those who choose to follow. Leaders must master the dynamics of this relationship. They must learn how to mobilize others to want to struggle for shared aspirations. Enlist others to share in the vision. Be open to what others have to contribute. Allow your dream to become bigger than the periphery of your own vision.
Set your vision to action and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Along the road to success many lessons are learned. Be open to learning as much as possible. Accept change to occur as the dynamic of your vision progresses and have faith and patience in your process. My hope is that by this stage of your vision work your success will be dependent on the collective influences that you have established to join your leadership.
Remember what Abraham Lincoln said, “Determine that the thing can and shall be done and then we shall find the way.” And don’t forget to practice, practice, practice!
• Mason Chock is the executive director of Leadership Kaua‘i and can be reached at mason@leadershipkauai.org
