The Vision is the Boss
/There’s no real point in working for an enterprise that’s got no Vision or Ambition. People want to work for a company that they can be proud of and has plans and ambitions for the future. So having and being able to communicate a Vision is critically important, as this is the emotional story that people attach to.
I am acutely aware that much of what I believe and write about on the subject of leadership could be said to play into a rather old fashioned view of leaders being powerful, charismatic and indispensable individuals, without whom the world would fall apart. I am wary of this, since I know only too well the risk of corruption (in the truest sense of that word) that goes with this dynamic. Who am I to say I’m right when I decide something that affects thousands of employees? Who am I to autocratically impose change on other human beings that will seriously affect their livelihoods and even maybe their health and their whole futures? Who am I to exercise such God-like power? What makes me right? What gives me the right? I’ve been round this loop so many times, and all I keep concluding is that leadership IS vital.
Therefore that it must be placed in the hands of those who can best exercise the power and responsibility that goes with it, which comes back to the right person, for the right role, at the right time.
But we can also put some governance structures around the leader to keep that leader honest and to keep them safe from the temptations that will come their way. A proper Chairman, a proper Board of Non Executives, or Trustees, (a proper Coach?) and a written mandate that states the leader’s responsibility. Suffice to say here that the leader needs a clear Vision, not just to be able to communicate this and inspire followers to action, but to be held accountable to.
Because the CEO is not the boss – the CEO is simply the steward of the mission for a period of time. The Vision is the boss. It’s the Vision we all serve, not a single individual, however charismatic or inspirational they may be. Don’t act because I’m asking you to; don’t act because you need to show you’re busy; act only in service of the Vision. If what you are about to do does not serve the Vision, don’t do it. And if a manager uses personal persuasion to get you to do something that you feel is wrong, check against the Vision, and if it doesn’t pass the test, pushback. Have the courage to say to your manager that you believe you are being asked to do something that goes contrary to the Vision.
The Vision is the Boss, it’s the Vision we serve.
As a leader I’m always striving to be ‘On Purpose’ which helps me both with my self regulation in being consciously intentional in my dealings with people, and helps me always remember it is the Cause that I serve, and that all around me are doing their passionate best to serve also. This harks back to my beliefs on authentic leadership, being the combination, the synthesis of the right person at the right time. Of being authentic as a human being, of knowing the leader version of ourselves, and being clear on the organisation’s mission and purpose. Always being ‘on purpose’ is about always being true to one’s own personal purpose and values, and always serving the purpose of the organization.
Authentic leadership means creating an emotional journey towards an inspirational vision of the future – creating a compelling Mission or Purpose – and then communicating this in such a way as the people who want to believe get on the bus, and those who do not get off. What is our Vision for the future? What is the finest and clearest emotional picture we can create of what our desired future looks like and feels like as we look towards the horizon?
The trick is to pick something that on first hearing causes people to react with surprise, uncertainty and even hesitancy, characterized by a “Wow, really? That seems impossible. You really think we could do that?” - but after a moment’s reflection sets up a connection to a logical or rational thought, characterized by a, “But actually why not? It makes sense for us to be the ones who could go for that. Maybe we could achieve it. Wow, let’s start!”
“Without a vision, there is only work” - Michael Gerber
About the Author:
Gareth Chick is a 40 year corporate veteran with a global profile. His career has included hugely successful spells as CFO, CEO and Chairman in both public and private sectors, including private equity. What makes Gareth's experience unique is that he combined those executive roles with a part time career as a leadership trainer, researching psychology, neuroscience and psychotherapy to create leadership development programmes used now by many major global corporations. In the last 15 years Gareth has trained over 5000 managers and served as Executive Coach to over 200 senior execs including FTSE100 CEOs and Fortune 500 VPs. As Founder of Collaborative Equity LLP, “promoting corporate cultures and sustainable business models of shared ownership, shared responsibility and shared rewards", Gareth acts as consultant to many global leaders, specialising in first time CEOs and Start Up founders. ↠ find out more at ceq.com
