A crucial question for leaders: How does your organization represent your best intentions, values, and thinking? And how does it not?In today’s business world, thankfully, there’s an ever-greater focus on teamwork and collaboration. We’re finally learning that the power of cooperative effort surpasses by orders of magnitude the power of individual effort.But, as in all things, the universe strives for balance, and there is still a need for leadership that grows out of a deeply personal relationship with the organization and its outcomes. So, when effective leaders walk into their building, or their department, or their office, they should see the quality of the environment as a reflection of their leadership.Are people in your organization communicating openly and honestly with one another? Are they solving problems in a timely and effective manner? Are they positive and confident in their work? Does the building look like it should? Are they treating customers, and one another, with care and respect? Do they love the product or service you are selling?The answers to these questions reflect the personality of the leader. It’s an awesome responsibility – and it’s one the leaders rises to, works into, and derives fulfillment from.In our work with leaders, we observe that few people truly live into their own power. The world around you is big and complicated; there is a lot you can’t change. But you can change your organization – if you believe you can and if you possess the leadership skills to make good on that belief.So sometimes it really is more about me, and less about us. There is a necessary balance here between the collective will and the will of key individual leaders. Sometimes organizations need the strong leader to step up and take the organization to a higher place.This transformation of your organization requires the leader to have a vision. What does that involve? Well, this blog post from my business partner late last year will get you started.

YOUR PATH FORWARD:•  Revisit your intentions for your organization or department. What do you want it to look like, act like, feel like?•  Ask yourself, “What aspects of the environment here don’t match up with my very best sense of myself and what I want to see?”•  Make a short list of the things you could be acting on today that would bring the current reality closer to your vision.•  Get into action!