Owning the vision through leadership

Leadership is a talent that in some instances, seems to be inherent; in other cases, individuals have invested years in to become the type of person, others are willing to follow because of their ability to amass skills that leaders develop to produce a functional vehicle for getting things done.

In either case, one characteristic that is prevalent is the leader's ability to transform their vision.  A vision by itself is only a dream; when a leader takes on the necessary characteristics to advance their vision, they become their vision.  And it is this transformation that moves people follow in the footsteps of such leaders.

Implicit in this description is determined, discipline, creativeness, transparency, organization, inclusivity, and objectivity in a way that promotes emotional intelligence.  This leader look under the stones while assessing the value of the pebbles because they have a different task but serve a common purpose and can be equal in importance.  What is important about the relationship between the stone and the pebble is not the size (which is what likely comes to mind at first) but the function- great leaders see this and can incorporate the philosophy into their vision.

But what does it mean to become your vision? A vision is made up of vibrant parts that give it life, taking what exists and making it what is possible.  Taking ownership of what is possible means understanding the parts and attaching an action to them that you live by daily until your vision is ready for another upgrade.  In order to understand the parts you should look at it from above.

The anatomy of a vision is not so difficult.  You must first determine what it is; understand its relationship to what currently exists; define what it is (so that others may follow); interpret how it differs in nature and form; and assess its value to helping you achieve the goals you have in mind.  Before assigning work for others, the leader has determined (through credible exchanges in dialogue), that his or her insights demonstrate new possibilities that mark an improvement over the current circumstances.  And you must be able to create a canvas that others can develop a shared understanding of where it is going and their role in helping it get there.

The owner of the vision must then understand what changes they need to make themselves, that reflect the characteristics of the vision.  This gives the vision life, requiring shifts in behavior and culture.  Only then can the visionary hold members of their team accountable for carrying out the work of the vision.

Perhaps one of the most important attributes is not being "driven"  but rather alignment and consistency.

Whether it is because you have decided to be more climate conscious, improve your health or  or build client relationships, clear shifts in your behavior demonstrate what the new standards will be.  A vision is a way of life not a desire.