My leadership journey began more than than 25 years ago with The Leadership Challenge, the most trusted source on becoming a better leader. So far, more than 2 million copies of the book have been published in over in over 20 languages. Based on Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner’s extensive global research, this life changing approach to leadership and their enduring work is critical to help us navigate the world of work today. The basic premise is that leadership is a relationship that must be nurtured and, most important, that it can be learned.
The second Practice of Exemplary Leadership through the Leadership Challenge is Inspiring a Shared Vision.
In order to create the workplace culture, we desire to be a part of we must engage others to Inspire a Shared Vision.
As a leader. I know you passionately believe that you can make a difference. In order to bring this passion to fruition, we need to envision the future, and create an ideal and unique image of what our organization can become. Through both magnetism and quiet persuasion, we, as leaders, need to enlist others in bringing this vision to reality. We must consistently and deliberately breathe life into this vision and get people to see exciting possibilities for the future.
Leaders passionately believe they can make a difference. They envision the future and create an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become. Through their magnetism and persuasion, leaders enlist others in their dreams. They breathe life into their visions and get people to see exciting possibilities for the future. |
As an example of this consider one individuals vision for independence for his country. No one can doubt the clarity of Gandhi’s vision, but what truly made him a remarkable leader was his ability to engage an entire nation in an age before the modern technological and communication tools we have today. His vision for how it can be achieved, through non-violent resistance and other forms of peaceful protest changed the lives of nearly a billion people.
Everything Gandhi said and did was in line with his vision, and it was his unswerving commitment and faith in that vision that drew in followers that challenged the colonial rule of western powers in his country and established an independent India.
One of the ways we can learn how to Inspire a Shared Vision is to learn from those that have done it before. Check out this great little video about Mahatma Ghandi – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ept8hwPQQNg
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