One of the most positive leadership styles that a manager or leader can obtain is the visionary style.
It seeks to build resonance by moving people towards shared dreams and freely innovate, experiment, and take risks. It articulates where a group is going through the emotional intelligence competence of inspiration.
Consider what a new director of a social work agency for impoverished families in a metropolitan area did when her team was demotivated to work. Funders of the agency were complaining that the work was too slow and inefficient. This was because the volunteers and team members were not so interested in completing their tasks. This issue was rooted from the complicated rules that they had to follow to carry out their jobs.
The director talked to the employees, one-on-one, to enlighten their purpose of working in the agency, and what it meant to them. Employees were relieved to have the chance of talking about the meaning in their work and about the frustrations they faced trying to check-off tasks.
The director began to explain how their work was benefiting the impoverished, and how their dedication was changing society and reaching their mission statement.
The Visionary style starts with why. Why do you want to do the work you do?
If you’re a doctor, why did you choose to provide counselling, diagnosis, and treatment to patients with diseases, illnesses, or injuries?
If you’re an engineer, why did you choose to design, build, and maintain various complex systems and structures?
If you’re a lawyer, why did you decide to present cases, memorize laws, and help clients in court?
If you’re an entrepreneur, why did you choose to create a new venture and go through the risks and discipline?
If you’re a teacher, why did you choose to educate students in a variety of subjects?
I think we all need to take a hard stop in what we are doing, and reflect on the why. Why are we doing what we are doing?
Note: All knowledge and ideas are attained from the book"Primal Leadership: Realizing the Power of Emotional Intelligence". This blog summarizes the content from the book, but may unintentionally contain the same wording.
Comments