Effective leadership has always been one of the best methods for cultivating meaningful changes, boosting productivity, and exceeding goals. In addition to these elements, leaders also have opportunities to inspire others through their work; particularly, when leaders take on the role of the visionary, pioneering new ways of accomplishing goals that have not been done before. Tony Goetz NV details four specific steps visionary leaders can take to inspire their fellow peers.
Communicating The Vision
For every leader, it can be just as much of an ordeal to bring their goals and dreams to fruition as it is to effectively communicate those dreams with others. Having the proper communication skills is a must for inspiring others: No matter how clear your vision is to you on a personal level, others are depending on you to be able to see it in the same way. As such, visionary leaders should learn to communicate on a variety of fronts: Visually, verbally, interpersonally, and so on, to ensure that their vision reaches (and ideally inspires) as many individuals as possible.
Collaborating On A Higher Level
Where good leaders say that they merely work with others, great leaders can say that they truly collaborate with them in a deep and meaningful way. The concept of exceptional collaboration stems from the passion that visionary leaders have about their hopes and dreams. In the same way that they have carefully thought out, understood, and planned out their vision, they also owe it to themselves to apply the same level of commitment to their peers. Going beyond the bare minimum is the next logical step, with the best visionary leaders being unhesitant to take the time to get to know people and find out how best to build them up; only after significant efforts are made towards this endeavor can leaders hope to inspire.
The Constant Pursuit Of Innovation
If there is one thing that visionary leaders are exceptional at, it is the process of learning and understanding how to accomplish tasks in new ways. The ideals of innovation, thinking outside the box and being willing to take calculated risks to make discoveries are all critical elements in the process of inspiring others, and they should be pursuits that leaders engage in on a daily, if not constant, basis. In essence, it is merely the visionary leader doing what they do best, but regardless, keeping innovation at the forefront of one’s decision-making processes is not something that should be taken lightly.
Learning From And Embracing The Past
You may be surprised to hear that inspiration can come from your past mistakes as a leader. While initially, it may be difficult to delve into one’s past in a way that can leave them feeling quite vulnerable, it can be one of the best ways for visionary leaders to understand what makes them tick, and, more importantly, how they can do what they are doing now, but even better. Instead of trying to bury their failures, leaders should acknowledge them, recognizing that no matter how egregious they may have felt at the time, they are, in fact, the stepping stones that lead to where they are now as accomplished individuals. Learning how to tell the stories of their own shortcomings and teach others is one of the most inspiring things a leader can do, and such knowledge can go a long way.
Tony Goetz NV on Empowering Others To Inspire Change
The process of cultivating inspiration does not end with the actions that leaders take; the best leaders know that they need to inspire their peers to the point where they, in turn, can be an inspiration to others. What this means for leaders is that they need to learn how to keep themselves in check, developing a sharp eye for recognizing the opportunities in which their peers can shine. As natural as the instinct may be to try and steer the ship constantly if leaders wish to inspire others, they need to empower them to play a more active role in the work at hand. Whether it is letting someone else lead a meeting, praising and utilizing another person’s ideas, or simply giving credit to others where credit is due, visionary leaders can ensure that their goal of inspiring others does not end with them.
