Consider some prominent leaders and discuss how they inspired others to follow their vision?
Relate the Twelve Steps of Purposeful Action to the ways these leaders inspired others. Provide examples and references to support your comments.
This post was written by Brad Renter, who will lead the blog discussion for the week starting March 3.
“Create a vision because you want it, not because everyone has one. Mission and vision statements have become a must for organizations. Unfortunately, the must came more out of keeping up with the Joneses rather than becoming better organizations. The value of a vision should be in its ability to provide direction, not in its ability to be checked off and placed in a frame. Take all the time you need to have a vision that inspires you.” [ http://top7business.com/?id=573 ]
Vision needs to foster inspiration, but the priority is not in inspiring others and getting them on board (Which is necessary for success) but FIRST to be inspired yourself! A vision should thus be developed out of passion and conviction rather than peer pressure and such.
Yeah, Jimy. It seems like we are seeing more and more companies who are benchmarking based on the actions of others and trying to implement processes that don’t really fit. They only do it because it seems to be working for someone else, not because it fits, and the companies don’t have their own vision.
One example is that the factory I work in is trying to implement “lean” processes and continuous improvement activities. I think there is some great potential, but repeatedly I see management bringing in overtime workers (in the middle of a layoff by the way) to paint machines white, when we are sitting with more product in our rework area than what we have in our finishing operation. The focus is way off I think.
Yes! I am in total agreement, Jimy. Not only must a company’s vision be genuine but so too must the employees believe in the vision. My previous employer continually changed it’s vision statement based on what was trendy and what their competitors were doing. Eventually many employees became disillusioned as there was nothing genuine to believe in or be inspired by.
Children are the only ones that really have the ability to have what I would call “pure” vision and inspiration. Children are not “bound” by past disappointment or experience. They can “dream” without the burdens most adults
havehttp://www.ivysea.com/pages/vision_portal.html.
Good point Roy. They also see people as they are not through the eyes that we adults do. They don’t see race or color or other prejudices. They see the good in people not the bad.
Roy E, what you said is right. children will have the pure vision and inspiration. But, they don’t know how the vision is going to workout that is reality check. In childhood every child has some vision. later, they will change the vision according to they age and by seeing other people.
I do not entirely agree with this statement. Yes, children do have an advantage in the ways that you have described, but adults too can foster this mindset. Shoshin is a Zen concept and subject of Shunryu Suzuki’s book “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind”. It is defined as “refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when studying a subject, even when studying at an advanced level, just as a beginner in that subject would”. Thought it is likely more difficult for adults to foster this mindset than it is for children I do believe it is a beneficial technique to practice.
http://www.intrex.net/chzg/hartman4.htm
Scott pointed out a one of the great leader. Martin Luther King was dreamer. we learned that leaders are dreamers. Many years ago he dreamed of things and acted with a purpose everyday of his life.
Good to see that principles of good leadership like vision is very valuable. In this case dream became a vision, vision lead many many people to success. True leader reflect vision and dreams that would encourage others to follow.
P.s If you like to find more about Gandhi or ML King, please check out YOUTUBE.COM.
Vision has to be communicated – it cannot stay bottled within to fully bloom into itself! These great leaders were good communicators (not just orally, but in example) of their vision (which in itself was revolutionary, powerful and needed) which is what leads it to be inspiring. Great examples of course!
I am not sure if vision “fosters” inspiration or if they go hand in hand. But individuals without vision cannot be leaders or at least effective leaders.
See Link for article on vision
http://www.thondomraughts.com/2008/05/people-without-vision-perish.html
A vision is not needed for inspiration, but in order to reach a vision an individual must be inspired by that vision or something else along the way. Inspiration will drive an individual toward a successful goal. Although anyone can be inspired by the actions of others.
Perhaps the most prominent leader of the civil rights movement was Martin Luther King and he immediately pops in my head concerning the 12 steps with the “I had a dream” quote. His dream (or vision if you will) was the advocacy of equal human rights and he is now an icon in the study of human rights. You can watch the speech on youtube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbUtL_0vAJk
I think it is fair that MLK’s emphasis as a leader on Phase I of Purposeful Action is seen in the video….He definitely inspired followers and was committed to his vision.
Scott
A great clip.
What I really like about MLK was he had the same “human” faults that we all must overcome. Dr. King was still a most effective leader even with these faults.
You are right Scott. MLK is probably the first person who comes to most people’s minds when you start talking about dreams and visions of how things could/should be. He was definitely a true leader and visionary. The world is a better place because of his visions and dreams. He was willing to take the risk to fight for what was right. He was driving by giving actions and put others first.
I like to introduce two great leaders of India.
Jawaharlal Nehru, with Mahatma Gandhi, was one of the principal leaders of India’s
independence movement during the 1930s and ’40s. He became the first prime minister of a newly independent India in 1947.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/commandingheights/shared/pdf/prof_jawaharlalnehru.pdf
Both these leaders showed core values that would support and promote the purposeful actions that would attract and influence others. Followers believed and trusted their action based on these positive core values. There was no hidden agenda with these leaders, communication was given to all level to spread the vision and made it understandable to all levels of followers.
Roy M
While I believe everyone in the US has heard of Mahama Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru is not well know.
But, by reading your link, I see that even though he was raised will all the advantages, his vision was for independance for all of India
I agree with you Roy. “His philosophy of nonviolence and his passion for independence began a drive for freedom that doomed colonialism.” He is none other than Mahatma Gandhi. He is notable forever for his greatest accomplishment of all the times – non violence.