How To Lead With Clarity
We’ve all been there.
We woke up in the middle of the night with an alluring idea for our next creative project. Or, we gained a new vision for a business venture while reading an article over lunch. A conversation with a friend sparked inspiration for a new direction for our nonprofit.
The next morning, we raved about our idea to our spouse and told our close friend about our ideas. For several days, it was all we could think about.
We jumped right in, eager to get started. We made a few phone calls, did an internet search, and asked our teams to get to work on researching. But because we weren’t clear about our goals, the project never took off.
Can you relate? Have you had a wonderful vision for your business, but weren’t sure how to get started? Did you have an idea, but couldn’t get others excited about it? Have you felt that you have a vague idea of where you want to go, but no idea how to flesh it out and bring clarity to yourself and those you lead?
If this is you, there are three types of questions you need to ask yourself.
First, you will ask yourself the “What Questions.”
- What is it that we’re trying to accomplish?
- What are we doing right?
- What is my role as the leader?
- What support do I need to accomplish the task or the goal?
These questions help you see your vision with greater clarity. It’s hard to become emotionally committed to a vague idea or a generalized dream. But once you start fleshing out the vision, your team will begin to see themselves as part of the journey and the end result. Give your team a clear vision of what you’re hoping to accomplish so they can become energized about practical ways they can participate.
Once you’ve clarified what you’re doing and where you’re going, start asking yourself “Why Questions.”
- Why are you headed in this direction?
- Why NOW?
- What’s your “why” behind this goal?
In the midst of so much uncertainty in the world, it’s critical to understand your purpose and motivation. You will come back to your “why” many times in the upcoming days. When you start to lose your vision, purpose, and excitement, it’s important to remember your reason for pressing on.
Finally, you need to ask yourself the “How Questions.”
- How are we going to get this done?
- How are we going to measure success?
- How will I get started?
- How will I stay on track?
- How will I keep myself accountable?
Once you have clear steps to take, you and your team will be able to jump in and get to work. When you lead with clarity, you will accomplish great things in your business, life, and relationships.