Recently, I had an opportunity
to have a conversation with the directors of a relatively new leadership
program for students at a major university. During those conversations, they
were lauding the completely results-focused nature of their efforts. In fact, only the results of their chosen developmental intervention
mattered. Now I have no issue with focusing on results but it did get me
thinking out loud about why their approach had to be such an either/or
proposition? I believe as leaders, we should be more focused on painting
portraits than just taking pictures!
Allow me to explain further.
When we take pictures, we are just capturing the “what is” or the current state of affairs. In other words,
the current results or level of functioning of individuals or organizations.
Now that is all well and good and is important to do so but leaders should also
paint portraits of “what could be!”
That is literally and figuratively the beauty of those that paint. Painters can
take the ordinary and make it extraordinary. A true work of art! Something that
inspires and awes.
I believe that if we want
better results from those we lead, we must inspire others beyond just their
immediate level of performance. As much as team members want to know where they
stand, they also want to know
where they can go! Accountability
is important, but so is inspiration and that is where a leader can have huge
impact. As leaders, we are called upon to create “word pictures” of not only
what is but what can
be! We do this through our words, our actions, and our example.
Sam Adeyemi is a young
minister in Nigeria that has built a congregation of over 25,000 and has
launched even more churches. He points out that leaders have the opportunity
(and I believe obligation) to lift up and inspire others to:
- Help them believe they are more than they think they are.
- That they can do more than they think they can do.
- Have more gifts and talents than they think they have.
You cannot do that if you are
just focusing on the “what is.” Back to my original question, then. Is your
leadership about taking pictures or
are you also painting portraits? As
you are building a culture of accountability are you also creating an
environment of enthusiasm and expectation? Is your leadership nimble enough to
do both? I believe that people, especially young people, want to be inspired.
They want to know that great things can still happen for them and others even
in a cynical world. They want to know that they can impact others and
situations. They want to know that there are still great opportunities
available to make things better!
As always if I can help you and
the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would
invite you to email me or to visit my website below and see if any of the
training or coaching experiences I offer can provide an impact! In fact, I am
launching a new SPEAK FOR IMPACT
training program that will help both novice and experienced leaders find their platform and increase
their communication skills! Also, as a bonus, if you go to my Out Loud
Strategies website (www.outloudinc.com)
and enter your contact information, I will send you a FREE guide to
establishing a mentoring initiative program in your organization! Such an
initiative would be critical to add value to your organization!
Yours in Leadership,
Bill Faulkner
Principal Consultant – Out
Loud Strategies
Independent Coach, Speaker,
and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM
Email = bill@outloudinc.com
Visit our website at: www.outloudinc.com
For more information on the
John Maxwell Team, please visit
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Page www.facebook.com/outloudinc
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