The best leaders are visionaries. These people see a future that doesn’t exist, and take us on a journey to that future state, seeking to turn it into a reality.
As Jim Collins says in Good to Great, in chapter 3 (my favorite chapter in the book), titled, First Who…Then What:
“The executives who ignited the transformation from good to great did not first figure out where to drive the bus and then get people to take it there. No, they first got the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and then figured out where to drive it.”
In other words, it’s not where you are going, but who you are going there with. Like most things in G2G, I agree. And, like most things in G2G, the metaphor of a journey ahead is an acknowledgment of moving forward; as we travel forward, we are moving into the future. Carl Sagan taught us that.
While Jim & company say great brands don’t need a clear and precise destination to become great, we do need a goal for the somewhere we are going. I like to draw a horizontal line when talking to clients and colleagues to illustrate the spot we agree we are moving toward. It’s a simple visual reference that anyone over the age of 4, and not born over 3,000 years ago, can understand (children under four don’t understand perspective, and humans didn’t know how to illustrate perspective until about 2-3k years ago, which you can see illustrated in Egyptian art). On paper in two dimensions, that spot on the flat horizon is a clear target. But as you know from being on a beach, the horizon line where you draw that dot is many miles away. And the path to it is mostly unknown, featuring countless obstacles and adventures ahead. Maybe even sea monsters, who knows?
We hear business leaders talk about the 10,000-foot perspective they need to make important decisions. That’s because, on the ground level, we only see the future speck we want to reach. However, from a different perspective, we can see many of the challenges ahead. Of course, none of us can see them all, since no one can predict the future. Even though we can’t see into the future, we must commit to thinking about it. And what are we going to feel when we know we have a long and challenging road ahead? Pessimistic thoughts or optimistic ones?
I wrote about enjoying the journey, how the work brings us joy; read it here.
The choice is clear, obviously optimism is the way. And who are you going to follow or bring along into the journey ahead, a pessimist, an optimist, or a soulless, indifferent husk?
Clearly not the husk, but every time, I’m hitching my wagon with the optimist. And every time you’ve won with a team, you did too. And when you’re in the leader’s seat, optimism is the mindset for success.
Some actionable takeaways. Here are a few ways I lead with optimism:
- Recognize that the work gives us purpose, and purpose brings us joy.
- Instead of seeing things as challenges, re-frame them as opportunities.
- Stay positive.
- Take risks and innovate, where failure is only when we don’t learn.
- Promoting open and frequent communication.
- Give yourself, your team, and your customers time to think.
- Lead by example.
The concept of “brand” is, in my experience, inherently something that perpetually exists in an aspirational state. To me, brand = reputation, so you always have to be earning and optimizing all things in your business to earn the reputation you desire, because, as I wrote in Build Your Brand Like You Give a Shit, you’ll get the reputation you deserve. Set the vision for that aspirational state, then do the necessary work with the right people.
If you could use an optimistic leader at your adult table, let’s talk.
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