Intentional Leadership — D1, W4, M1 — Creating a Guiding Vision

Today we take a closer look at our vision. Are you an innovative leader, or more conservative? Are you ready to buck the trends in your industry?

Think back to when Phil Knight, of Nike, changed the market for athletic shoes. He focused on making athletic shoes “cool,” which was a world away from how Nike’s competition was marketing their shoes.

Leaders like Knight blaze new trails. They lay out a vision that functions as a compass, guiding the way for their organization, and keeping it from straying from the path to success.

Nike doesn’t bank on the actual attributes of its shoes. It banks on the cool factor created by the sports stars who wear them. In essence, the shoes have become a status symbol and a fashion statement.

Phil Knight is no longer at the helm of Nike, but his vision lives on. The company still invests heavily in — and banks on — sports stars continuing to wear and showcase Nike shoes, reinforced by catchy slogans crafted by advertising experts. In fact, these days, it’s really more about the attitude connected with the shoes, not even the shoes themselves.

Certainly, if I showed you the Nike Swoosh, “Just do it” would flash into your mind. This is a powerful image built by a visionary leader whose legacy continues.

Today, spend some time thinking about visionary leaders like Phil Knight; leaders who have left a powerful and long-lasting legacy.

What characteristics or qualities did that leader demonstrate that contributed to their success?

How did their organization fare after they left?

How is their vision carried forth today?

What can you learn from these visionary leaders that will ensure you are casting a compelling vision, one that will function as a compass for our organization even when you are no longer there?

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Intentional Leadership — Weekend Prep — D5, W3, M1 — Vision

This is becoming our Friday routine. Did you anticipate it?

Are you ahead of this post and already have your weekend thought out?

As we come to the end of this third week on our Intentional Leadership journey, will you spend some time in reflection of the work you’ve done over the past week and how it’s going?

What about giving some thought to how you will spend the weekend?

Who do you need to spend time with?

Who needs to spend time with you?

What do you need to do for yourself this weekend — to relax, refresh, reflect, reinvigorate?

What do you need to do to prepare yourself for a great start to next week, preparing for Monday?

We have a play date to make Valentine cards for my son’s Kindergarten class.

I will read at least an hour of something fun and an hour of something on growth.

I will call my parents. I will respond to some personal emails. I will handwrite a couple of letters — one to a mentor and one to an old roommate.

I will spend at least two hours working through curriculum in the John Maxwell Online University and at least two hours on business accounting.

And I will spend some time preparing for Monday.

As we all know, Monday is going to arrive; it always does. Won’t it feel much better to be ready for it?

Again, what thought are you giving to things you have planned or need to prepare for or complete in the coming months?

On Monday, we will begin week four of our Intentional Leadership Journey.

Remember, success comes from taking steps and doing work each and every day, consistently over time. You’ll see the benefits of your efforts if you are persistent and consistent.

Have a great weekend, and I’ll “see” you on Monday!

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Trumpeting the Vision — D4, W3, M1 — Intentional Leadership — Vision

As we near the end of the week, let’s work on the communication plan you began to think about yesterday.

If you haven’t gotten that far, why not start with a plan for the next month?

Again, you’ll need to define the key messages — what do your people really need to hear, know and understand?

When do they need to know? Creating key messages tied to your key milestones will help you lay out your timeline.

What vehicles can you use to spread the word? Remember, anything printed or visual needs to be a secondary or even tertiary form of communication — reinforcing messages you’ve already shared in person. After all, if something is really important, shouldn’t your team/organization hear about it first from you? Then you can use memo’s, newsletters, posters, and other visual communication tools to reinforce what you have shared in person.

Define how you will reinforce the actions and behaviors you need your people to take and demonstrate.

Give some thought to the celebrations you will have (they don’t need to be super-spectacular spectacles!) as your team/organization reaches those critical, initial milestones.

Be sure to put all of these things on your calendar. As you know, if you haven’t made it a priority and blocked out the time to take care of it, all that other daily stuff will become your priority. It will be easy to get to the end of the month and realize you haven’t accomplished all you wanted to — so take the time to schedule your actions now.

Create your vision.

Articulate it simply.

Share your passion for it.

Demonstrate your own commitment to reaching it.

Reinforce the behaviors you see in others striving for it, as well.

Drive to completion.

Celebrate along the way.

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