Leading with Imagination or letting traditional methods lead you
The art of leadership is such a fascinating topic
. We expect so much of our leaders. They must hold the vision, guide our ship and in the end, deliver it with charisma and stamina. After reading hours of leadership articles in magazines about how to manage, who to hire, how to get results, etc. I started to ponder the bigger questions.
Who was even listening? And, was the leader's message breaking through? What's the point after all of being the lone leader if no one is paying attention?
As leaders we want to believe that our teams and our followers hang on to our every word like creamy peanut butter on toast. However, as someone that's been on both sides of the leadership equation, both a leader and a follower, I'm not sure that's true? In fact, I know that's not true.
Think back to the last corporate motivational rally, Monday morning meeting or even watching a leader on TV. Do you remember anything they had to say? Did you walk away with the drive to take action? Did you make a change because of their speech or jump on the bandwagon never looking back?
Most people I ask that question to take a long uncomfortable pause (at least it's uncomfortable for me) as they rack their brains trying to remember what the leader or leadership team was trying to communicate. Most often the response I get is, "I don't remember the details but I think it was motivational."
Not exactly what a leader wants to hear. That comment is exactly why I believe in Leading With Imagination. Being innovative and creative with our leadership and communication tools. To stand out in the sea of sameness and be heard above the noise, it's not enough to stand at a podium with beautiful slides behind you. Been there done that. Putting values on a piece of paper taped to the wall next to every other to-do stickie, family photo and random paper doesn't do much but cover a wall anymore. Doing the same as everyone before you BORING!
If every person in a position of leadership from the entrepreneur to the supervisor up to the CEO is delivering their message in the same way the question shifts from who is listening to WHY should I listen? Your message just blends in with all the other clutter we take in on a daily basis. You become the teacher in the old Charlie Brown cartoonswha wha wha whawha wha.
This may should harsh but the greatest leaders do so with Imagination. Bill Gates releases mosquitoes into the audience, Zappos founder Tony Hsiesh has "do more with less" as part of the corporate values. Do you think people remember these things? Absolutely they do. The remember, believe and then act it! It stands out in a sea of sameness and delivers a message in a way that's meaningful and memorable.
If you are a leader reading this dare yourself to lead with imagination. Take in everyone else's advice on what they've done in the past and do the exact opposite. Know that your people are looking to you to guide the ship and wave the flag like no one before you and around you has ever done.
It's the unexpected, the surprise, the innovation that we remember. Ask yourself, are you leading with imagination or just letting traditional methods lead you?
Tamara travels the globe
speaking, training and leading workshops for organizations, associations and conferences looking to ignite innovation, provoke new ideas and challenge people to unleash their creative potential. She also has a line of
CREATIVI-TEES so that we can wear or creativity (literally) and spark creative conversation.
Leading with Imagination or letting traditional methods lead you
By: Tamara Kleinberg
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