A while back now, I went to a training event ran by a well known and very popular leadership organisation who prided themselves on the pursuit and execution of excellence. I sat there for two days in a conference room with 10 other people reading through a manuel that outlined what we needed to be trained in.
By the end of the two days it was glaringly obvious that there was no plan or strategy for our training, there was no envisioning or passion behind what we were given and it sure as heck was not an excellent experience, let alone process. I came away quite frustrated and wishing that those in the position of leadership had a clue about the plan for those two days and beyond.
As a leader you have to have your head around the plan. You have to know where both you and the people you lead need to go and have some idea how to get there. If you don't you'll loose nearly all credibility. It really is that drastic. I read a quote the other day that said something along the lines of, "every leader should from time to time look behind them to make sue they are still being followed". But this is only possible if the leader is walking toward a desired future, according to the plan they have.
If you don't know the plan when people ask you, they won't want to follow you. Sure the trust they have in you will help, but they won't follow you if you don't know the plan of where to from here.
THE CALL TO ACTION: What leadership position are you in that requires you to have a plan? What is the plan? What does it look like? Who does it involve? What timing is important? What is the first step? Which direction are you planning to lead people in? Answering these questions is vital to your leadership credibility!
