What is YOUR goal as a leader?
As a leader you hold a lot of responsibilities. At the end of the day YOU are responsible for the outcomes and well being of your team and organization as a whole. There's a lot of factors, stress and responsibility. But the question remains: What is your goal as a leader?
This may sound like a pointless question to ask with a limitless variety of potential answers. "My goal is to raise more money" "My goal is to inspire my team and launch a new profit center." Those are both great answers! But if your answers sounded similar to that you're not thinking big enough!
As a leader it is your ultimate goal and responsibility to raise up those around you and prepare them to take your place. You should be equipping, empowering and cultivating the dreams of those under your leadership. You are encouraging them to expand an existing vision or enterprise.
Here's a short poem I wrote last December that I think captures the essence of the importance of transitional leadership:
I'm far from shore
In shallow water no more
Anchored firmly to a solid ocean floor
These are conditions in which I cast well
I wait for reflections of calmness no wind no swell
My casts are similar in width and distance
I'm careful and know this seas resistance
Cast is complete
One less will I throw
Head back to shore soon
There will I go
Watching my net
Always in clear sight
Knowing just when to pull and make tight
A good catch once more I pull aboard
Light lowers where ocean kisses the sky
Do I cast one last time?
A salty mist covers me
Closed eyes reopened
A new ocean I see
This endless ocean right under my feet
Yet anchored in one place
Each cast made off the same side.
But not this last time
I will cast my net far and wide
I will cast my net from the other side
This will require me to pull with all my might
Against this ocean I plan my last fight
I will need other fishermen to pull this net in
With great excitement they pull the net to the surface
The boat bowing down under the weight of this catch
I am also pulling with all of my strength
But I pull on the anchor line with my eyes turned to the shore
My job is done a fisherman no more
