Reveal Your Inner Visionary

Welcome to the first edition of What Else Is Possible?, the newsletter that explores what it means to be a modern leader. Together, we’ll uncover personal and professional opportunities for growth, allowing you to leave your unique mark on the world.?

If this is our first time meeting, you can learn more about me and the work I do here.?

If you ask 5 leaders for their advice on effective leadership, you’ll very likely receive 5 different answers. But in my experience, I’ve found that great leadership begins with great vision. As a leader, you are your team’s north star. They look to you for guidance and inspiration, and all that starts with a clear and actionable vision. You wouldn’t climb a mountain without a plan in place, and you can’t expect to be an effective leader without one, either! It’s your responsibility to develop a plan for the future that works for everyone, but you don’t have to do it alone. There are steps you can take to cultivate the visionary inside of you.

For a brief introduction, check out this video on achievable vision!

Zoom out

One of the most important skills for effective leaders is the ability to identify the opportunities around them. With so many exterior distractions at play, it's easy to be blinded to what’s right in front of you. We get caught up in an achievement circle, completing the next task without thinking critically about what could improve. We put people in boxes instead of taking the time to discover their hidden strengths. We become complacent, saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Or we focus too much on the future, ignoring past issues. Our brain sets up these traps to keep us comfortable.?

It takes effort to look beyond this kind of thinking, but it’s integral to creating a successful vision. Most leaders know how to set goals and read metrics, but that isn’t vision. Vision is long-term thinking, and to do that successfully, you have to look at what’s around you.? First, identify longer-term possibilities for what your organization could become, then shape your vision with those in mind. Don’t get trapped in day-to-day thinking; zoom out to discover the opportunities that are right in front of you.?

Vision is a team sport?

Picture this: you’re on a hike when you’re suddenly confronted with a raging river. There are two bridges. Would you cross the bridge built by a single person or the bridge built by a team??

I know which one I’m choosing.?

You can try to build a vision by yourself, but it’ll be much stronger with a team. Not only will they provide you with unique insight, they’ll also be much more likely to accept and embrace the vision if they are part of creating it. Make the process formal and public, and think of it as a fun way for everyone to re-engage with your organization’s purpose and principles, or to help new hires feel more engaged. Particularly in hybrid or remote environments, this can be a great way to get colleagues reconnected to the organization and to one another.

As you create your vision together, make sure that your team can see themselves represented within that vision. You need to have a plan, of course, but in order for it to work, you have to bring everyone along. The more your team feels like they have ownership of this vision the more invested they’ll be in bringing that vision to life. You want everyone to be able to say that we did it, and we did it together.?

Be the champion

While leadership is about ideas and taking action, it is just as much about inspiring those around us. Visionary leaders not only know what they want the future to look like; they are able to successfully communicate that vision to their team. You can have the best vision in the world, but in order for it to work, you need to be its champion. There are many strategies for sharing your vision, so experiment with which combination is right for you. Experts suggest that you communicate your vision using positive language, and display your own authentic enthusiasm when you do it. Keep the vision simple and straightforward, making sure no one can misinterpret its meaning. When you communicate, don’t just share ideas. Give your team real, concrete, actionable steps toward turning your vision into a reality. Experiment with storytelling, creating a narrative for your team to hold on to. No matter how you choose to communicate, make sure that your strategy is authentic to you.?

What else is possible?

A single moment can change the course of our life or career. We don’t often recognize them in the moment, but what if we were able to see these moments and make the most of them as they happen? What if we could even create these moments? If we look closely, I believe we can see these moments of possibility as they emerge.?

I call these “What Else” moments, the moments that allow us to see a vision of what’s possible. When these What Else moments connect, real and sustainable growth is within reach. With that in mind, I want you to consider this question:?

What else is possible when your vision works for everyone??

New ideas and diverse outlooks are what inspires me, so let’s talk! Let me know what you think in the comments.?

Are you ready to discover what else is possible? Contact me here to start the conversation.

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