Leadership is in the news more and more every day, whether they;re talking about business leaders or politicians. Praising strong leadership or bemoaning the lack of leadership, leadership is everywhere and smart organizations are focusing on it as part of their workforce development strategy.
Clients often ask which leadership skills are the most important for success . It’s a great question and if you google it, you will find dozens of lists, but one of the most important skills necessary for a successful leader in any field would be the ability to create a clear vision and goals for his or her team.
It is amazing how often leaders try to lead without knowing what they truly need or where they exactly want to go. It is certainly understandable since in today’s frenetic pace with constantly changing mandates, leaders have to think and act quickly. In such cases they usually have a sense which way their team should be headed, but they haven’t really taken the time necessary to clarify the vision/mission and identify the goals they want to achieve. This makes it difficult for them to clearly explain to their team how to proceed and they end up giving vague direction. Not only will this stymie immediate efforts, but over time it corrodes both the effectiveness of the team and the team’s trust in them as a leader.
So how then to avoid this trap? Make the time necessary to really stop and strategically assess the mission and goals. Carve out quiet time to thoroughly evaluate the mission, vision, issues etc. As busy as your schedule is, this really is where the rubber meets the road. Strategy takes time; your preparation here will pay off handsomely and help you avoid wasted time and efforts later on.
When meeting with your team be prepared to clearly articulate where you need to go but enlist their ideas in identifying the goals and markers along the route. Don’t think you need to know all the answers in advance, you have a team for a reason, utilize and empower them. Being closer to the ground they may be especially suited for the developing the tactics necessary to achieve your mission. Be aware of their capacities and welcome their feedback as the process proceeds.
Again, nothing pays off like creating the time and space to strategize while understanding your team’s capacities and being willing to empower them.
John Somers, ACC
Executive Coach & Consultant
202.265.0845
linkedin.com/in/john-somers-acc-5264281
