Leadership, Culture, & Improvement

Proof is in your feet. Achieving through improvement begins with a visionary leader who shows more than tells and creates an organization ready for change.

Why do we follow some people and not others? Is it simply confidence in their ability to get us to our destination? Is it their personality? Their methods or means of execution? Our expectations? Their ability to communicate?

Yes. To all of it and then some.

Good leadership is not formulaic - it is a cornucopia of ingredients - both internal and external. However, one ingredient that is consistent is having a clear cut, intractable vision and the ability to passionately communicate that vision. Where are we going and why is that so exciting.

But the story is never really enough. Great public speakers can motivate and inspire, but leadership is about doing more than that. It's about parlaying that passion into action, change, and improvement.

Many organizations struggle with change. And researchers have determined that there are verifiable reasons for resistance to change.

Unaware of the potential benefits associated with the organizational change, employees often develop a sense of fear, and perceive the introduction of change as an unfair act.

What do leaders need to do to change their team's attitude about change so their organization can achieve and lean into the vision? There is not a single answer to that question, as it can be achieved through a myriad of activities. But the key word is activity.

Every leader needs to reinforce the BENEFITS to the organization as well as to each employee in order to remove the fear and sense unfairness. This activity is not singular or static, it is ongoing, evolves, and is inculcated into every part of organizational culture. It must also invite dialog and pressure testing from employees.

My mom used to tell me, "proof is in your feet, kid." What she meant was, "stop talking and start showing." Action is the only way that demonstrates that the words coming out of the mouth are meaningful. When it comes to leading an organization to being perpetually ready for change, recognize that the race is a series of ultra marathons requiring discipline, pacing, and patience.

To lead effectively, a person must clearly articulate their vision with passion and intensity - inspiring those around them while simultaneously leading the charge humbly and patiently. Moving their feet and their fleet ever forward.