Wise leaders communicate a clear and inspiring vision that serves
as a beacon for the organization they lead. The vision becomes all the
more powerful when it is supported by the leaders guiding values. This
vision/values complex forms the framework that creates meaning and
stimulates and aligns employee motivation. When all are pulling in the
same direction at the same time great things can be achieved.
Wise
leaders show how the vision will become a reality by focusing on, and
connecting the employees to, current, meaningful objectives and asking
important questions; questions that, when answered, produce power and
energy.
In order to be able to address meaningful objectives, the
vision needs to be connected to the organizations current situation:
What is working well/what are our strengths today and what do we need to
develop? We begin by highlighting the positive; what we are already
excelling in. This creates enthusiasm and helps us get the right
perspective on opportunities for development.
The difference that
arises between our present situation (how it is) and our vision (how we
want it to be) produces the creative tension that motivates us to act,
develop skills, form or enhance relationships, and so on.
King Solomon, a leader synonymous with wisdom, says: "Hard work brings prosperity; playing around brings poverty."
Each
division, department, group, or team needs to see the link between what
they do and the overall objectives. These larger objectives are broken
down into intermediate objectives that are in turn broken down into
individual objectives and contributions. Doing this stimulates employees
to do their very best.
Wise leaders formulate meaningful objectives that are:
• Challenging, yet realistic.
• Simple and clear for full understanding.
• Timetabled, so all involved know when the targets should be achieved.
• Measurable so that everyone can see and monitor progress.
• Few, so as to create focus.
Use
these criteria when you make up your plan. Ask these questions: How do
you know that the objectives are challenging and yet realistic for you
and your group? What are the exact results you want to achieve? When are
you going to achieve them? How can you measure you success? How do you
maintain focus?
Solomon says: "Do you know a hard-working man? He shall be successful and stand before kings!"
Wise
leaders get the whole organization to purposefully work towards the
achievement of their objectives. This leads to meaningfulness, to
creating something of value for employees, customers, society and the
world. A wise leader helps employees in the organization move their
internal desires into mental visualization so it can produce the
physical creation of a positive future. The leader supports them in
seeing the potential and the road to development.
A wise leader
also helps employees in the organization to grow and enjoy the success
that is verified and reinforced by praise and appreciation in various
forms from those around them. This releases energy, power, and momentum.
The
leader has to clarify in his or her own heart the greater value he or
she want to be a part of creating. A key question to ask is: Who do I
want to be? The use of our imagination to create inner pictures of
success and to develop the spirit of pride for our role gives enthusiasm
and focuses our actions.
Solomon says:"If you won't plow in the cold, you won't eat at the harvest."
Discipline
is doing what we have to do and paying the price to bring the vision
into reality. It's giving up something good today for something better
tomorrow.
Everything has its price. If we want more, we need to
give more. If we want to have a higher yield, we need plow and plant
more. The natural law of development and growth always applies. We reap
what we sow.
Objectives become a reality through our investing in
the practice, performance, time, and effort it takes to produce them,
one small step and one sacrifice after another. This takes place day
after day as we take step after step in our development and we gradually
take part in the harvest. The vision becomes a reality.
Solomon says:"Be patient and you will finally win."
Everything
will come to those who wait. Most of what is worth fighting for takes
time to achieve. The objectives must engage us as leaders to, in turn,
get our people engaged - to help them see progress as a gradual process,
one step at a time, one small victory after another. This gives them
the energy and motivation to continue the journey.
Solomon says:"Work hard and become a leader."
The
wise leader develops a tremendously strong identification with the role
that is needed in order to achieve the objectives. Objectives should
give meaning and motivation to accomplish the work. Wise leaders, in
addition to the objectives they are connected to in their organization,
need a clear idea of what gives balance in their lives.
To become a wiser leader:
• Create a picture of common opportunities and the direction for your organization.
•
Together with your lead team, come up with a small number of
challenging objectives for the organization. Focus on a combination of
developing well-aligned coworkers, customer satisfaction, working
smarter, stimulating growth and creating profitability.
• Gather and communicate with your employees for participation, understanding, and commitment to the objectives.
• Clarify roles and mutual expectations to build your group into a powerful winning team.
• Have a dialogue with yourself regularly and always acknowledge ownership of your process.
• Get a clear idea of what gives balance in your life.