How to Craft Your Leadership Vision
“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
Crafting a leadership vision for yourself is one of the key and foundational step to take to achieve greater successes and deeper impact.
While it is natural for one to craft a vision for their role, their team, one’s success, we don’t often focus on crafting one for the kind of leader we want to be.
And yet the daily challenges of leadership can easily be overcome, simply by having a vision.
How so?
Because crafting a leadership vision is not just crafting a vision. It means also crafting the what, why, and how.
That means you have undergone a deeply personal and introspective journey of - uncovering your values, strengths, your inner resources, derailers, blockers and even reframing techniques - preparing you for any unexpected storms or changing dynamics.
Let’s explore this with an example.
Crafting a vision begins with asking yourself the fundamental question - Who do you want to be (and become) as a leader?
The answer to that question could be anything from - one who cares to one who is balanced, drives results, supports their people, builds psychologically safety or builds a diverse team, is empathetic, inspires others, is influential, is an innovative thinker, and so on.
Let’s pick influence for further exploration (it is the most common goal leaders bring to coaching).
Explore with me - as I answer, you answer too for yourself in a way that is most true for you.
I usually use the 5W & 2H framework to help my clients discover, design, and devise a roadmap to translate the vision to reality.
What does being influential mean to you?
(The first what is for you to unpack what it means to you)
“I should be in a position to bring my ideas or out-of-box thinking to the table and be able to create buy-in or influence other’s opinions or choices”
What is important about influencing other people?
(The second what is for you to unpack your why)
If I don’t have the ability to influence, I can’t lead change or take myself and my organization to next horizon.
What is important about leading change or taking to next horizon?
(The third what is for you to unpack your hidden motivator)
It is about growth - when the organization grows, it will create more opportunities and room for people to grow. And when people grow, it will create growth for organizations. And to support both in growing, I should lead with influence to garner conviction.
Sounds like an important value emerging here - growth.
(Sometimes, as you unpack, you will come across values that are important to you - acting as guiding stars)
Take a pause and ask yourself. What key 1-2 values are emerging for you thus far?
How can your value of growth become a propelor for your influence?
(The first how is to unpack how do your values bring your leadership values to life)
My focus will be more on opportunities, more on learning. I will be able to solve problems more efficiently as I will look at solutions rather than problems.
Are there any other values you need to hold true to influence?
(This helps you lean into more of you and builds your awareness to your inner compass)
Honesty, openness, conviction
How do you feel about your current ability to influence?
(The next how is for you to unpack where you really stand - sometimes its not all that bad as we feel and sometimes it’s much worse)
I am able to communicate and express my ideas and thoughts freely, however it doesn’t translate into people seeing the same potential or impact, the way I see it.
What seems to be coming in the way?
(This what is to help you zone in on your barries. When there is clarity on barriers, you will find a way to address and overcome them)
I guess when I look back. I get extremely passionate about what I’m saying and because I’ve done immense work behind, I know so much that its often hard to stop at one point or really zone in on the important points. It’s my communication. I need to be more succinct and deliver the message clearly. To think of it, I’m so in my head of checking all the boxes or points I want to me, it also blocks me from listening to what others have to say or consider their inputs or being open about new perspectives and sometimes even get touchy about feedback.
What are the capabilities you need to to be more succinct, focused and not get carried away?
(This last one brings to light what you need to develop and strengthen to bridge the gap in becoming the leader you envision to be)
Work on my communication, my listening capability, not take things personally, regulate my emotions….
What are the resources you have and that you can lean into more to build on the other capabilities?
(The key here is to bring forth the power of resources you already have. Resources could be other strengths, people, tolls, frameworks that accelerates your development)
Your vision that entails leading by influence is easily translated into reality by developing the skills you need and bridging the gap steadily.
As you delayer each of the element of your leadership vision, you will become more aware of your values, motivators, strengths, blockers, and ways to achieve your vision).
And as you strengthen each of the capabilities, you will steadily elevate your impact visibly.
It may seem overwhelming, but as you unpack and as you build, you will realize that - all capabilities are somehow interconnected and interdependent. So when you build one, you will build many along with.
So give it a go and experience the impact of having a leadership vision.
Read more on why crafting a leadership vision is an imperative you must undertake.
Need support in crafting one? Reach out to me.
Hi, I’m Preeti Kurani, your executive coach & growth partner.
Does it feel like you could use a potion of unblocking inspiration and a brainstorming partner to craft your leadership vision? Connect with me
