While attending the National Speakers Association Convention recently, I heard keynote speaker Walter Bond issue a challenge to leaders everywhere as he said, “Leaders, validation is a lost art. Validate people’s hopes and dreams.”
Validation is defined as substantiating, supporting, or confirming something and this got me thinking. How can Great Leaders validate the hopes and dreams of those that they have the privilege of leading?
Inspire people to dare to dream – Great Leaders encourage their followers to dream; and, to dream big. They know that the bigger the dreams, the greater the internal incentives to turn those dreams into realities. Great Leaders communicate their support of those dreams and demonstrate their willingness to help the follower attain the dream.
Create an atmosphere that is conducive to success – Have you noticed that some plants grow better than identical plants in other locations? Why is this? Friends in the real estate business would attribute the difference to “location, location, location”. I prefer to say, “environment, environment, environment”. Some places simply provide an environment that fosters growth, success, and the achievement of goals. Great Leaders create such an environment in which their followers who dare to dream big can do what is necessary to turn those dreams into realities.
Share the vision – Great Leaders have a vision of what they want to accomplish and the goals that they want to achieve. They expect their followers to see that vision and work for its fulfillment. Why should followers not expect the same support from their leaders? Great Leaders not only look at the visions of their followers, they look for ways to help those visionaries fulfill their visions as well.
Great Leaders, your followers, your team members, have hopes and dreams for their futures and the futures of their families. Just as you expect them to see your vision and support it, you have a responsibility to validate their hopes and dreams; and, demonstrate that you consider them to be worthwhile by providing your support, your enthusiasm, and your help in making those hopes and dreams come true.
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Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com