Mayday Mayday We need a leader
On December 29, 1972 Eastern Airlines Flight 401 bound from New York to Miami crashed into the Florida Everglades because of a twelve dollar light bulb. As the plane approached Miami the indicator light for the deployment of landing gear failed to come on. The plane circled over the Everglades while the crew tried to figure out the problem. Either the landing gear was not working and they had a major problem on their hands or it was a simple case of a faulty light bulb. When one of the crew members tried to remove the bulb, he found it was stuck and would not come out. Soon all inside the cockpit were so focused on the light bulb that they failed to look up and see they were losing altitude. The plane eventually slammed into the swamp killing almost everyone on board. It is a tragic example of how we can get caught up in the small things and lose sight of where we are going.
Many organizations today are over-managed and under-led. In other words, leaders get caught up in the day-to-day managerial administrative tasks, and forget to look up and plot the course for the organizations future. A leader’s vision is essential for an organization. Visionary leaders are heavily sought after. People want to belong to an organization with a strong sense of direction, whether it’s a fortune 500 company, community association, or local church. If a leader does not remain a visionary, life becomes stagnant, and the organization grinds to a crawl.
As leaders we will never be able to escape our role as manager, but the key is not letting managerial tasks overtake us to the point where we are swamped with administration. Here are a few tips to remaining visionary despite a busy schedule.
- Plan a meeting with just you.
Carve some time out each week to get away from the office and just think about the future of your organization and its current direction. It’s amazing what can come to your mind when you are removed from the situation. Schedule this time into your weekly planner and keep it as sacred as a meeting with the president of the board. - Enter the trenches
Keep in touch with the front line workers - the people on the factory floor, the delivery drivers, the mail-room staff. These employees will often give you insight into things you would never have thought of. Often the best ideas for improved efficiency come from them since they are the ones performing many of these daily tasks. Set up a weekly coffee break with a different worker or a monthly “town meeting” with a certain division to get their feedback and ideas. - Stimulate the minds around you.
Encourage creative and visionary thinking among all your employees, especially your direct reports. Solicit their input and advice on your industry and where they think future opportunities lie. Many people never think beyond their job roles because they are never encouraged to. The more minds contributing to your future, the greater your chances of success. - Take care of yourself.
Proper rest and exercise are the key to staying in shape. What does staying in shape do to contribute to vision? How visionary are you when you are lethargic, stressed, and overworked? Why do so many great ideas and concepts come while people are on their holidays? When your body is rested your mind is in a better place to wander down the road of your future. - Inspirational entertainment
Watch visionary movies or read inspirational biographies biographies. Braveheart, Hoosiers, Glory, Gladiator, and Ghandi, to name a few. There is something about the stories of other men and women who have made a difference that inspires us to greater heights. Inspiration is the fuel for future dreams.
Remember, as a leader you are responsible for maintaining your vision and inspiring others. You will always have your share of faulty light bulbs that need fixing but never forget to keep your head up and plot the course for your organizations future.
