Defining the leaders vision – the second step that is the most important

I want you to imagine a scene I’ve encountered many times. I’m sitting in a leader’s office, ready to start a coaching session. The leader rushes in, muttering something about wishing others would understand what they want. I realise it’s not meant for public discussion, but rather a private expression of frustration.

After composing themselves, the leader sits down and greets me with a half-smile, half smirk, showing they’re glad to be here but have a million other things on their mind. The coaching session begins.

I cautiously refer to the leader’s earlier statement. To my relief, they seem eager to discuss it. They express frustration that their team doesn’t seem to understand their requirements, despite being exceptional practitioners. They struggle to define their leadership vision when I ask for clarification.

In a previous article, we discussed the importance of defining a high-performing team and how it relates to the kind of leader needed to build such a team. However, I often receive vague responses when I ask leaders what kind of leader they need to be to support their organisation’s journey to high performance.

I encourage leaders to respond in detail, specifying the type of communicator they want to be and the roles and tasks they need to be involved in daily. Lack of detail can lead to poor decision-making and involvement in activities better left to others.

It’s crucial for a leader’s vision to align with the organisation. I’ve coached leaders who were unhappy because their leadership style didn’t match their organisation’s values and direction. Some of them realised this, handed over control to a better-suited leader, and found greater success in organisations that aligned with their vision.

Reflecting on these questions and being true to oneself is an essential step for any leader who wants to be true to their organisation and, more importantly, true to themselves.

Ian Crawford | Leadership Development & Influence Expert

Ian’s extensive experience and varied background enrich his role as a facilitator. He began his career as a physical education teacher, with teaching and coaching stints in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Canada. His proficiency covers a range of sports, such as soccer, shooting, archery, and abseiling.

Upon his return to Perth, Ian shifted his focus to organisational consulting, working across Australia, Botswana, Lesotho, Malaysia, and India. He specializes in guiding groups to become sustainable, high-performing teams. If you would like to read more about Ian and his workshop on Essemy click this link.

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