CLF LE 1 - Vision, Culture and Engagement

Welcome to this CLF PD platform post on the importance of vision, culture, and engagement and how they contribute to effective leadership. The sections below will progressively immerse you deeper into the different areas and guide you to reflect on your current practice and any areas for development.

Introduction

VCE1- Understand the bigger picture and set the vision within the working context.

If leaders are to be effective and to positively impact their organisations and followers then they must be able to Understand the bigger picture and set the vision within their own working context. Developing strategy is a process and leaders must convey a 'compelling vision of the future', communicate it clearly, implement it effectively and monitor and review it critically. Leaders must recognise the importance of effective communication and ensure that both their formal and informal communications are clear, concise, concrete, correct and compelling.

VCE2 - Establish and sustain a positive culture and work environment aligned with the vision.

Organisations develop 'their way of doing things' and thoughts and behaviours are largely driven by this often unconscious entity called culture. Leaders must Establish and sustain a positive culture and work environment aligned with the vision they have set. developing and sustaining these shared rituals, routines, systems, structures and stories must be a proactive, continual pursuit for leaders as left unattended an unwanted culture can develop. Key to culture development and adherence is the building of trust and leaders again must proactively seek to strengthen this on a daily basis. The levels of trust within an organisation underpin the strength of its relationships and the levels of collaboration, credibility and psychological safety.

VCE3 - Model the highest expectations and professionalism.

Leaders 'set the weather' in their organisations and as such must Model the highest expectations and professionalism. Strong self-regulation and control of both emotions and behaviours are a hallmark of effective leaders. Managing the space between stimulus and response enables leaders to make better decisions, model desired behaviours and maintain the highest levels of professionalism. Effective leaders also pay attention to their role as a follower ensuring that they are 'managing up' to protect strong working relationships with their superiors. In practice, this required leaders to understand needs, maintain open and honest communication and proactively offer support.

Key Takeaways

Developing strategy is a process and leaders must convey a 'compelling vision of the future',
Effective communication is vital if we are to ensure that information lands correctly with its receiver.
Trust is important to leaders as it underpins healthy relationships, collaboration, credibility and psychological safety.
Culture often precedes behaviour and therefore is a pivotal focus for leaders. Culture directs values, attitudes, and beliefs but also develops from them.
Self-regulation has been defined as 'control of oneself by oneself' and involves the management of emotion and behavior to achieve effectiveness.
Managing up requires leaders to build supportive and successful working relationships with their superiors. It does not involve manipulation or manoeuvring.

Reflective Questions