Inspiring a Shared Vision Week Three Essay

Transcription

1 Inspiring a Shared Vision Week Three Essay Gretchen L. Blake LEAD 580 Problem Solving for Today s Organizations Dr. Sara Garski Summer

2 Gretchen Blake - LEAD Abstract True transformational leaders are those who inspire others through a shared vision. Seeing what others have not yet seen and expecting the extraordinary, transformational leaders are able to create a guiding coalition. Kouzes and Posner explain that being forward-thinking, envisioning the possibilities and inspiring others to follow that vision are those traits that separate leaders from non-leaders (Kouzes, J., Posner, B. 2012). As a graduate student of leadership studies, this paper will define my mission and vision statement as well as my plan for sharing this vision with others.

3 Gretchen Blake - LEAD Introduction The author of the textbook Ethics, the Heart of Leadership discusses that often the ethical challenge within the leader-follower relationship is the understanding that leadership is not a person or a state of being; rather, is a process or a journey of sorts that is determined by the interrelationships between the leader and the follower (Cuilla, 2004). This is a strong point that is counter to the traditional though of leaders having the autonomy or sole burden of driving change and the actions of their followers. Within this journey, Kouzes and Posner made a powerful statement when they said; What we have discovered and rediscovered is that leadership is not the private reserve of a few charismatic men and women. It is a process ordinary people use when they are bringing forth the best from themselves and others. They go on to write that people make extraordinary things happen by liberating the leader within everyone (Kouzes, J., Posner, B. 2012). Inspiring a shared vision is to first ask yourself Who am I? Finding that answer is where the journey toward leadership begins. The advice of the authors is to evaluate what is important to that person on a personal level and develop a vision of their personal vision and mission and then share this with others. In my opinion, when a leader is able to inspire others through clearly and effectively articulating ideas, extrapolating what is unique about their work and their organization and striving to be animated and memorable. As I evaluate my values and what is important to me, my goals, my vision for the future and what I hope to achieve and share with others. My Mission Statement Mission statements can be defined as the documented words that are chosen by leaders to clearly convey the over-arching direction and purpose for the organization and why they exist. These are written to inspire others by powerfully communicating intentions and primary

4 Gretchen Blake - LEAD objectives. In developing a mission statement, leaders need to ask several fundamental questions; the first is what are the opportunities or needs that exist that need to be addressed or what is the purpose. Another question is to answer what is being done to address those needs. The last is what principles or beliefs guide that work or the values of the individual or the organization. As I move forward in my goal to become a visionary leader, my mission statement is build on the articulation of my highest aspirations on who I want to be as a leader, it will act to hold me accountable on a daily basis and guide me toward my vision. This statement will hopefully become a powerful role model for others and one which inspires a common sense of excellence. My Mission Statement: As a leader, I believe leadership is a personal journey not an organizational position. I am a life-long learner who is passionate about teaching, training, coaching and developing inspiration and excitement in others. My core values of integrity, excellence and vision drive my decisions and create a sense of value in everything that I do. Success is integrating change and seeing successful results that drive a higher level of excellence. I engage and encourage others to see the compelling vision of personal leadership in themselves and those around them. My Vision Statement Many confuse a mission statement with a vision statement. A vision statement is one that defines the desired future state of what an individual or an organization wants to achieve over time and the direction in which they are headed. It provides the guidance and inspiration through providing a roadmap for change that is clear and easy to understand which aligns people, processes, product or services. While leaders may change, a clear and concise vision asks individuals to focus on what is important to better understanding organization-wide change and the resources that are necessary to implement these changes.

5 Gretchen Blake - LEAD In the business setting, good leadership means creating a vision that defines aim and purpose. A personal vision statement is a concise set phrase of your philosophy, beliefs, and vision of what you want your life to be about. When constructing a Vision Statement, it is important to ask question about what contributions you want to make, how I do want to be remembered, what effect do you want to have on others, and what is my life really about. My Vision Statement: As a life-long learner and student of leadership, I will refuse to be tied to the past, yet learn from my experiences to take that information and act as a change agent for the future. I am committed to diversity and taking each individuals unique talents into consideration as I interpret ideas and translate to actionable solutions. Sharing My Vision Not having a clearly defined mission and vision not only limits personal leadership capability, but also limits opportunities for the organizational success and misses an opportunity for providing clarity for employees and developing accountability and ownership in work every day. An organization that invests in engaged and productive employees is one that pays attention to how their work contributes to accomplishing the mission or current state, with the vision- or future state. Beyond clarity, a mission and vision statement is one that can strengthen the culture of an organization through a unified sense of purpose as well as improve the ability for effective decision making because there is clarity in the big picture and lastly, it enhances the collaborative relationship within an organization through a shared understanding of priorities. As a leader, sharing my vision and leadership goals is vital in creating a synergistic environment in which I thrive as a leader, but also; where employees feel a sense of empowerment and ownership in driving those goals and objectives that lend to transformational change. Interestingly, in a study conducted by Kouzes and Posner, researchers who study executive work activities estimate that only 3% of the typical leader s time is spend on visionary

6 Gretchen Blake - LEAD planning. In fact, their most recent analysis of almost one million respondents in a leadership assessment showed that what leaders struggle most is with communicating an image of the future that draws others in and one which speaks to what others see and feel (Kouzes, J., Posner, B, 2009). Only those visions that make a difference are those that resonate with followers and which make an impact through inspiration. Leaders who understand this are those who listen to others, those who appreciate their aspirations and continually tend to their needs. Truly, the best leaders are those who bring people to the future because they compel to human nature and reach others on a fundamental and shared level.

7 Gretchen Blake - LEAD References Kouzes, J., Posner, B. (2012). The Leadership Challenge, 5 th Edition. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA. Cuilla, J.B. (2004). Ethics, the Heart of Leadership. Praeger Publishers, Westport, Ct. Kouzes, J., Posner, B. (2009). To Lead, Create a Shared Vision. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from