There are two kinds of people in every organization (well, there are more than two, but for the sake of this topic, we will keep it simple). There are those who are passionate, excited, and energized about the vision, and there are those who are not. The latter often feel tired, act helpless, and blame others for how they are feeling. Every morning, each of us gets to choose which kind of leader we want to be. So, how can you differentiate an energized leader from a drained one? Here are five ways to know if your leadership vision is vibrant.
1. If what you do at work brings as much (or more) satisfaction as your favorite hobby.
So, you like golf? Fishing? Pickleball? Woodworking? Camping? Hobbies are great. They provide a nice diversion from the stresses of life. One thing you will often find common among leaders who are passionate about their vision – they love working in it and on it as much as (or even more than) their favorite hobby.
2. If you find yourself constantly thinking about it even when you are not at work.
Leaders who have a vibrant vision don’t differentiate “work hours” from “time off.” In fact, that wouldn’t even make sense to them. If a vision is worth investing your life into, it is also going to be in your thoughts most of the time. Telling a leader to stop thinking about a compelling vision would be like telling him/her to take a break from breathing!
3. If you are proud of it and cannot stop talking about it with others.
Leaders who have a vibrant vision want to talk about it, a lot. Makes sense, right? They believe in it, are energized by it, and are proud of it. As a leader matures, they often learn to temper this so that they do not dominate a conversation or come across as obnoxious! But when something dominates your thoughts and you are sold out to it, it can be hard to contain the excitement.
4. If you wake up energized and excited about getting back to work.
Millions of Americans wake up every day dreading work. Lack of engagement is costing organizations a truckload of money as well as a lot of employee turnover. But the most engaged people are those whose vision is so motivating that they look forward to a new day. This does not mean they love mornings – just that they love what they are aiming for and working on enough to shake off the morning dust.
5. If working 60 hours feels more energizing than draining.
When leaders talk about their work in terms of “hours” rather than in the language of vision, it often means their vision is coming up short. 30 hours of work for a visionless leader is exhausting. But 60 hours of work for a leader striving to accomplish something meaningful feels like a short week. While everyone has limits and burnout is a very real thing, hours are often not the most adequate metric. It is more about vision and less about hours.
Are you living out a vibrant vision?
So, are you energized or drained? If you are looking for someone else to provide you with a compelling vision, you may have a long wait and a wasted life. In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren said it well: “The greatest tragedy is not death, but a life without purpose.” Regardless of the leaders above us or the people around us, it is our responsibility to define a compelling vision for our lives and live out that vision where we work. Remember, we do not need anyone’s permission to:
Choose service over self-interest.
Choose to serve all of the people God places in front of us.
Choose to do our work with excellence.
Choose to have a positive attitude regardless of those around us.
Contact us to learn how our experienced coaches can help you grow in your leadership.
Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.
