Visualizing Leadership
I am a visual learner and communicator. When there are pictures involved it sticks with me longer. And I’m not alone. Approximately 65 percent of the population are visual or spatial learners. So whenever I teach a concept I try to visualize the ideas to better help others understand and retain the information. When it comes to leadership, the image above is how I visualize it. There are four reasons why.
It Points Towards A Goal - The hikers are moving towards something. They aren’t stationary. And they definitely are not retreating. They are advancing to a go. If you don’t have a destination, you’re not leading.
The Path Isn’t Easy - The incline on this path is about thirty degrees. Most treadmills max out at fifteen degrees. This path is not easy. But nothing good in life is. When leaders take people from the mediocrity of here to the good of there, it is always along a path that requires effort.
There Is Someone Behind You - There aren’t many followers behind this leader. But there is one. You don’t have to be marshaling an army to be leading. You don’t need a crowd. Just an individual. So if you are a parent with a sole child, or a supervisor with one direct report, you are leading.
You Are Slightly Ahead Of Them - The leader in this image is within eyesight. If you are too far ahead they lose sight and can’t follow. But if you are in lockstep then they have no direction.
There are many other good leadership images like a compass or stacked hands. What image do you see when you think of leadership and why?