One of the reasons I love to teach is that I learn so much! In a recent session on leadership a student* was making an excellent point about the need for action to follow vision. “You can’t steer a parked car,” he said. It doesn’t matter where your intended destination is, if you don’t turn the car on, put it in gear and release the parking brake and put your foot down, you have achieved nothing.

I am passionate about helping organisations and individuals to imagine a picture of a bright future – a vision. It is not always easy as the day to day grind and focus in the business often makes it hard for us to work on the business, and see what the future might look like. Once a vision has been imagined, described and agreed on, the next most important thing is taking action to move towards it.

One of the foundation steps in the Licence to Lead Leadership Development Model (click here to see it) is ACTION. We highlight the importance of a planning framework that helps us work on the most important priorities first and the need to be masters of time management to allow high levels of productivity. Then we show you how to do it.

Leaders need to talk. But they also need to walk (or drive the car) towards the achievement of the vision.

*Thanks to Simon Ashley of ATUNE Health Centres for this gem of wisdom.