Leadership Helps the Pieces Fit Together Well

Leadership Helps the Pieces Fit Together Well October 8, 2013

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Leadership can be puzzling.

Leaders translate the deep picture, the values and the vision, into specific  goals, objectives and practices. Leadership is all about making concepts and principles tangible; turning ideas into actions.

The leaders who inspire me have a passion for putting things to work.

Leadership is the bridge between the picture on the front of the box and all of the pieces inside.

Leaders need the big picture. We need to be able to see the vision. We need to appreciate the core values. The picture on the front of the box shows us where we are trying to go, what we want our result to be.

Leaders also need to understand the pieces. We need to know what we have to work with. We need to recognize the different colors and shades that help us see what goes where. Without the pieces, we cannot lead.

When I work on a puzzle, the first thing I do is find the edge, particularly the corners. The edge pieces help us see how the picture on the front of the box is going to be translated and interpreted in our specific project.

The next key to solving a puzzle is sorting out where the pieces can fit together well. I often take a big step toward solving the puzzle when I work on fitting some pieces together off to the side. The pieces fit together well, and provide clues to what might help solve the rest of the puzzle.

Each piece has something to contribute to the overall effort. My responsibility is finding where each piece fits, and giving it an opportunity to meet its potential.

Where are you helping people fit together well today?

How do you translate the big picture into how the pieces fit together?

[Image by Liza]


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