But in the end, leaders are judged by what they have achieved, and rightly so. But what do successful leaders do?

Put simply, they lead people somewhere they haven't been before. That is, leaders create change. In the process of doing that, leaders do three things:

1. Vision - the starting point is a vision of the change they wish to create. We've all heard that leaders are visionary, and unfortunately I think that many people see that as a talent that very few are blessed with. Being visionary simply means being able to see (in my mind's eye) the end result I want to achieve.
2. Alignment - just as important as being able to "see" the end result is the ability to articulate the vision in a way that gets the team into "alignment" - to be fully committed to achieving the vision.
3. Execution - getting team members engaged in executing the vision is the essential final step to creating change.

What is your experience of working with leaders who were effective at performing the work of a leader? I would like to hear your stories.

Keep reading our Weekly Leadership Tips for ways you can create a work environment where all team members are engaged, committed to your organization, and passionate about doing a great job every time.

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© 2007 Keith Ayers. All rights reserved.

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