What comes to mind when someone says “leadership”? Who do you think were the greatest leaders in recent history and what made them so? Was it George Washington’s determination that led to the creation of a new nation ... Winston Churchill’s steadfast resolve that led England to stand up to Hitler’s conquest of Europe ... or Sam Walton’s vision that changed the retail industry? These are, undeniably, characteristics of great leaders. However, all too often, the characteristics of the leader and the resulting leadership —his or her ability to lead — are thought of as the same thing. Yet, there is a vast difference between a leader and leadership. Leadership is the result; the leader is the cause. And the difference between them is in the people who follow the leader. So, what makes great leadership worth following?
In the upcoming February 4th Ugly Truth About Business show, you’ll be introduced to a special business leader, Tom Mathews with Investment Advisors International from Duluth, Georgia. Tom is one of those rare people who consistently demonstrate the characteristics of a great leader, evidenced by the many passionate and dedicated people who follow his vision every day. Yet, despite his being adored, Tom leads with a quiet humbleness and dignity, and attributes all his business success to his team of thousands (and still growing). Tom explains that leadership is not about motivation or inspiration. Leadership is about capturing people’s hearts.
Too many business owners, executives, entrepreneurs, generals, and fathers and mothers fail to achieve great success through leadership because they are focused on how to motivate and inspire their teams and subordinates to follow their vision. True leaders, however, don’t focus on how to get people to follow their vision. Instead, they take the time to learn about the people they are leading — their hopes, dreams, and visions — and then show them how to achieve their dreams by following the greater vision.
People follow great leaders, not because they are so hyped up on motivation and inspiration to achieve the leader’s dream. They follow when they see (that they have) the ability to achieve their personal hopes and dreams ... by achieving the greater vision the leader has laid forth. “You must aim for the heart in order to inspire the mind,” Tom explains. “As soon as people see in your vision the ability to reach a future they can only dream of, they will follow you to the ends of the earth.” It takes leaders with vision to help people see and articulate their dreams. It takes leaders with compassion to help people believe they can realize those dreams. If you see any organization achieve a large degree of success, you know there is this kind of extraordinary leadership at work. Visionary heart-empowered leadership is the key ingredient that determines success: If you have it ... winning is predictable, and if you are missing it ... your future is uncertain.
My challenge to you is to find out every one of your team members’ goals, dreams, and visions for their future. Get to know the depths and details of their goals, until you can picture in your mind the life they are striving for. Then, focus a part of each day on what you can do to help them achieve their dream through your vision. I predict that this will be one of the greatest changes you will ever make, both personally and professionally. Once you stop focusing on how to lead people by getting them to see and follow your vision and instead aim for their heart and show them how to achieve their dreams through your vision, you will have become ... a leader worth following. Be a Visionary Leader!