Vision: Leading for a World That Doesn’t Yet Exist

We have all been in a place where we felt like we were just going through the motions. Whether in our work or at home, we can get lost and bogged down by the day-in and day-out tasks of life. Before you know it, you might be headed in a direction you do not intend to go because you are on autopilot. The truth is simple: If you do not have a vision as a leader, you will eventually become a follower, sometimes that following is simply the mundaneness of life.

Effective leadership requires a vision for what is now and what is to come. This vision isn't just a corporate slogan; it is the DNA that runs through your company, your project, and even your home.

The Three Aspects of a Lasting Vision

A vision that sustains you and your team through a global pandemic or a corporate merger must be more than just a dream; it requires communication, planning, and a focus on legacy.

1. Communication: The Shared DNA If you are the only one on your team who knows where you are going, you aren't leading anyone well. A collective vision prevents people from falling back into self-serving personal goals. Your team should be able to recite and articulate the vision clearly.

2. Planning: The Map to the Destination As Sir Winston Churchill famously said, "He who fails to plan, is planning to fail". A vision without a plan is just a wish. You need a big plan for the overall goal and smaller, successive plans to ensure you get there step-by-step.

3. Legacy: Success Through Successors This is the most critical part of lasting leadership. Success without a successor is failure. If your business, team, or culture only works when you are in the room, you aren't leading; you are dictating.

Know Your "Why"

Why does your goal exist? If you are chasing a promotion solely for emotional reasons or personal gain, you will waver when the pressure increases. However, when your “Why” is about adding value to others' lives, it becomes much easier to embrace the path, even when it’s difficult.

For most, the "Why" isn't just the year-end bonus. It’s about creating financial freedom to support your family and being known as a good leader in your home and community.

Leading Where You Are: The Home Front

The concept of legacy applies most powerfully in your own home. As a parent, you are training your children to be leaders in their own lives. If you teach them nothing, you may be setting them up for a life of hardship. By communicating a vision for your family, you provide them with the light they need to see ahead when times get tough.

Your Final "Next Step"

To move from "run-of-the-mill" to a leader with vision, ask yourself: "Does my current vision have the ability to live past me?"

Take 15 minutes today to define the "Why" behind your current professional goal.

• Is it just for a paycheck?

• Or is it to add value to your team and security for your family?

When your "Why" is about others, you have found the foundation for Leadership That Lasts.