"I want to stand in the shade of a palm tree, on a sand beach, looking out at a turquoise sea, smoking a Cuban cigar."

When asked to picture a vision of what he wanted from his business years down the road, this was John's answer. John knows what he wants. What John needs is to know how to get there from here.

We will be exploring in the next months' issues of "Just A Minute" how to get John to his vision.

Before we start on this adventure, I want you to sit down and as quickly as you can write out your picture of your vision. Do not take time to think too long about it. It can be the vision of the business or your own personal vision, like John's. If you are really good, you can write a vision for both. Remember that your work and personal visions have to be connected, or you will be going off madly in all directions.

Now that you have completed and are satisfied with your picture of your vision, remember that you should look frequently at what you have written to remind yourself where you are going. I review my vision statement every couple of weeks. It helps to keep me on track and it motivates me to continue to work hard and be satisfied with what I am doing at this time. Writing a book took a great deal of time to get to, but here I am and I know why I am doing it because it fits into my vision.

I do a lot of sailing and you will find I use many examples from that. One of my visions is to sail around the world. I purchased the boat, took my Master's Certification, and completed a number of programs related to sailing. I have sailed in storms to find out what it was like and how I would react. I am ready, I know where I am going, each part of the trip, each adventure I will be having. Now that I am ready, I may fulfill this vision. There are still a lot of unanswered questions that go with this decision and those I have to face before I jump onto the boat and go.

Satisfying a vision is not an easy task. It takes a lot of preparing and dedication to fulfill a vision. What would we be if we did not dream and strive to fulfill that dream?

Now let us start and fulfill your dreams, whether they are about the work you do or the way you want to live your life, or a combination of both. I suggest the third choice.

You need others to help you fulfill your dreams. You need to take the lead in fulfilling your vision. You need to know and understand leadership.

I am a leader. I have been told that many times. I have also been told that it comes naturally to me, but that isn't true. I have worked at becoming a leader for many years. I do not believe that it comes naturally; I believe we learn how to lead from our parents, our associates, programs and books we have read. Leadership is something to strive for, to earn.

Leadership can be defined in many different ways, depending on the circumstances. A good soldier leads from the front; a good clergyman leads by example; and a good businessperson leads by understanding people. I thought there would be one definition that could cover all circumstances, but that is impossible. Here are a number of definitions that I have come across in my readings and through programs.

the "ability to affect human behavior so as to accomplish a mission designated by a leader" (Wikipedia).

"influencing and directing the performance of group members towards the achievement of organizational goals" (John Beech and Simon Chadwick).

"the ability to lead including inspiring others in a shared vision. Leaders have a clear mission and they communicate these visions within their companies that encourage risk taking, recognition and rewards and empowerment allowing others to emerge" (Government of Canada).

If you consider each of these definitions and the many others you may have come across, there should be one that describes what leadership means to you. Take a minute and write down what you consider a definition that you would use to describe you leadership abilities. For me, I think it means that I organize people to reach the vision by accomplishing the strategic plan of the organization by inspiring others to reach their full potential.

Before I leave leadership, let me add what a friend sent to me. It was a letter from her mother when Adrienne was very young and at boarding school. It makes so many good points about being a leader.

"Well done being made head of the senior house. You know, when I got your letter I was thinking, everyone is born with gifts – you would not always know it, as some are never developed and wasted. Leadership is one of them and one that I never had in any great measure, but having got it, it doesn't end there. It's got to be used with complete integrity, understanding of other people and no wish to manage and run everything and everyone. Do you remember telling me that you showed the juniors how to clean their shoes instead of ticking them off and telling them to do it again? That is the right attitude and leadership in the best sense. You will have to be awfully good now, won't you."

Sailing season is over but it took a long time to convince me that this year that I should take my boat out of the water. What a beautiful fall!

The Executive Roundtable Group met for the first time in October and we are planning the next one in November. There are still sits available so please contact me if you are interested. Beryl and I are very excited about this new program.

Robert Boucher
President
Cirrus Management Training & Sailing
1286 Rockwood Dr.
Kingston, Ont. K7P 2M7
1 613 634-0696
robert@cirrusleadership.com