Crafting an Effective Leadership Vision

Creating a leadership vision has two main benefits. First, it grounds you in your actions. In our hurly-burly world, we can slip into “management decision-making mode” very easily. When this happens, we sometimes slip, and a decision that should be made in a thoughtful, careful way is made in haste. A leadership vision (especially when it is posted in your office) is a constant reminder of your values, goals, and beliefs.

Second, when you share your leadership vision with your staff, they know what to expect from you…and they can hold you accountable when you do not live up to your vision!

So, how do you create a leadership vision? To begin, answer the following questions.

1. Do I have clear values as a leader? 
   1. List your three top beliefs that answer the statement, “This is who I am.”
   2. Define each value in one sentence that a 5th grader understands
2. Do my followers recognize my values through key actions that I demonstrate?
   1. How does your staff explicitly know what your values are?
   2. What actions did I do yesterday that demonstrated each value? 
3. Am I clear on my leadership strengths? 
   1. Your three best leadership strengths are…
   2. Define each one and how they help define your leadership style.
4. Am I engaged in self-development efforts that focus on my strengths?
   1. What is the one thing I need to learn in the next 7 days that will make me a better leader?
   2. Why is learning that so important for you and your organization?
5. Do I have a clear sense of my purpose as a leader?
   1. What purpose do you derive from showing up to work every morning?
6. Do I take time for leadership reflection?
   1. When do (can) you schedule time to reflect on the interplay between managing, leading, learning, and recovering?
7. Do I have personal 4 “board of directors” with whom to share reflections? 
   1. Who are the three experienced colleagues that I go to when I have a question or need to vent?

Now for the fun part. Take the answers to these questions and synthesize them into three sections.

Section #1: Leadership Vision. “My leadership vision is…” Use your answers to questions 1,2 and 5 to create the answer.

Section #2: What I am learning. “To become the most effective leader, I am learning ________, because it will help me by ________.” Use your answers to questions 3 and 4 to create your answer.

Section #3: Non-Negotiable Goals. “My three non-negotiable goals for leadership are…”

Have fun!