The Art of Transformational Leadership: Inspiring Vision, Nurturing Culture, and Driving Action

What bold action steps will you commit to taking today to propel yourself and your team toward meaningful change and create a lasting impact?

Happy Friday, Brew Nation! 

Grab your favorite coffee cup, sit back, relax, and get ready to sip on some enriching and thought-provoking content that will equip you to thrive in all areas of your life:

• Uncommon Leader Insights – I’ve enjoyed this new segment in the Champions Brew newsletter that brings you key takeaways from the remarkable guests featured on the Uncommon Leader Podcast!  I believe I will continue it into 2024.

In Episode 88 of The Uncommon Leader Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing my great friend and lifelong learner, David Campbell. Together, we explored the correlation between values and behaviors. Here are three of my takeaways from our enlightening conversation:

1. Your actions speak louder than your words: As leaders, it’s not enough to simply preach about the values and behaviors we expect from our organization. We must lead by example, modeling those principles in our own actions. The habits and behaviors we practice become the true measure of our leadership. Remember, your actions speak volumes, often ‘louder’ than your words.
2. Be intentional: Aligning values with behaviors and habits is critical to a thriving organizational culture. Just as we schedule time for important activities in our personal lives, leaders must prioritize and schedule time to intentionally cultivate the habits and behaviors that foster a high-performing organization. Take a moment to reflect on your calendar of activities over the past 30 days. How much did you invest in improving the culture within your organization?
3. Over-communicate: Leaders must actively communicate with their teams to provide clarity on the organization’s vision, strategy, and priorities. Over-communication is not about bombarding people with information; it’s about creating a culture where information flows freely, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and feels heard.

These insights from David Campbell shed light on the fundamental principles that drive a remarkable organizational culture. By modeling the right behaviors, being intentional in our actions, and fostering open communication, we can create an environment where individuals and teams thrive, achieving uncommon results.

• Think Positively – As leaders, one of our most vital responsibilities is to develop and communicate a compelling vision. However, the art of effectively communicating a vision is not commonly taught in school. We often learn by observing others or diving into insightful readings. In my recent exploration, I came across a great checklist from John Maxwell, which he uses to guide his communication. I believe it’s worth sharing:
  • Clarity – brings understanding to the vision (answers what the people must know and what you want them to do.
  • Connectedness – brings the past, present and future together
  • Purpose – brings direction to the vision
  • Goals – brings targets to the vision
  • Honesty – brings integrity to the vision and credibility to the vision-caster
  • Stories – brings relationships to the vision
  • Challenge – brings stretching to the vision
  • Passion – brings fuel to the vision
  • Modeling – brings accountability to the vision
  • Strategy – brings process to the vision

I encourage you to save this checklist for your next vision communication. You can use it as an assessment tool to evaluate the effectiveness of your current approach and identify areas for improvement.

• Read More – We are working our way through The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, another John Maxwell classic sure to equip you and inspire you to uncommon leadership! I look forward to walking through it with you, Brew Nation!  Have you gotten a copy to read along with me?

Quality #10 – Initiative

You Won’t Leave Home Without It

In Chapter 10, Maxwell outlined the subject of initiative. 

When it comes to personal or organizational transformation, the first step is crucial: Deciding to transform.   

As Napoleon Hill, the author of “Think and Grow Rich,” wisely stated, “The starting point of all achievement is desire.” I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment because having a clear idea of what you want, and expressing that desire, ignites the fire within you to take action. Initiative is impossible without knowing your destination or the person you aspire to become. So, how can you develop a clear understanding of what you want? In my coaching, I refer to this as the development of your ‘So that.’ To help you codify your ‘So That’, here are three key questions you should answer:

1. What is the opportunity or problem you see before you, which you want to address? This question becomes easier to answer when you reflect on the thoughts or daydreams that frequently occupy your mind.  Picture this: You find yourself at a crossroads, where the status quo no longer satisfies you. Deep within, you sense a burning desire for change and a yearning for something greater. It could be the opportunity to break free from the limiting beliefs that you have or the challenge of a new career opportunity. It’s an invitation to step into the arena of personal growth and transformation, leaving behind the familiar and venturing into the unknown. By seizing this opportunity, you could rewrite the narrative of your life, unlocking new levels of fulfillment and/or impact. It’s time to declare, “I’m mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore” to the limitations that have held you back and start the journey of personal growth.
2. What is the action you MUST take to seize that opportunity or solve that problem? Consider the opportunity or problem you outlined in question 1 as the destination on your transformational journey.   This action word encapsulates the essence of your next step. It could be ‘develop’—to cultivate new strengths, talents, or areas of expertise. It could be ‘grow’—to broaden your perspectives, or deepen your connections. It could be ‘change’—to transform outdated habits, behaviors, or patterns that no longer serve you. The specific action word is unique to you and represents the critical action you must wholeheartedly commit to.
3. Why is this important? If you solve the problem or seize the opportunity, WHY does it matter? Motivation alone is not enough; it tends to fade. The ‘SO THAT’ is what will motivate you to get out of bed each day, resist hitting the snooze button, and step out of your comfort zone. President John F. Kennedy once said, “There are risks and costs to a program of action, but they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” Let that quote sink in. Embrace the discomfort of change if you find yourself comfortable where you are today.  You should be Uncomfortable if you are Comfortable! It is in this discomfort that you dare to fail and take bold steps today to reach your potential tomorrow.

So, if you haven’t challenged yourself recently or stepped out of your comfort zone, perhaps it’s because you’re not clear about your ‘SO THAT.’ Having great ideas in the shower is common, but only a few will dry off and take action. It’s time to be one of those few. 

Next week:  Listening

Quote of the week:    “Of all the things a leader should fear, complacency should head the list.” – John Maxwell

What You Need to Do:

Call to Action:  So, my challenge to you is to define your ‘SO THAT’ and embrace discomfort. Let it fuel your drive to make a difference and seize the life you envision. The world needs your unique contribution, and it’s time to turn your aspirations into reality.

Are you ready to step out and make your mark? Share your thoughts and let’s encourage each other to take bold action!

It’s an honor to be your trusted “Friday Coffee Guy”.  Each week, I’m excited to provide yet another round of curated content that I’ve been reading, listening to, watching, or thinking over. The purpose of the Champions Brew is to inspire, equip and encourage you to become the uncommon leader you were designed to be. I am so grateful for your decision to invest a few moments with me! I hope you enjoyed this week’s edition of Champions Brew. If you did, I would appreciate it if you would share it with someone who might enjoy it as well and ask them to subscribe! I will make sure they automatically get this email every week.

Until next time, Go and Grow Champions!

P.S. – Are you a podcast fan?  Maybe the Uncommon Leader podcast is for you.    Are you interested in being a guest on the Uncommon Leader Podcast?  Do you have a story to tell?  Email me [email protected] and let’s have a chat and set something up!!