While the split is avoidable and potentially repairable both efforts require incredible commitment from the team and courage on behalf of the leader.
Rarely do leaders intentionally ignore the vision and sacrifice values. Success, however, is intoxicating and alluring—subtly skewing our thinking and drawing us in. It feeds our egos and has the power to lead us astray if we are not wise to its temptations.
There is nothing wrong with success, but without the necessary boundaries provided by a guiding vision and strong values we can easily allow greed to take over our motivations. And, when that happens the root of our success starts to erode, and left unchecked so will success itself.
Simon Sinek provides insights into the split in a powerful TED Talk:
Vision is about direction—like a beacon that keeps us headed in the right direction. Without vision it is easy to lose our way and chase mirages. Values are guiding principles that define how we behave along the journey. Without values we lose alignment as a team and the very advantage that allowed us to achieve success in the first place.
The only way to avoid the split is for leaders to paint a clear picture of the vision at the outset and continuously refer to it along the journey so that the destination remains in clear sight at all times. At the outset leaders also need to define non-negotiable guiding values and not sacrifice them when it seems convenient or expedient.
Just like a rocket that constantly refers back to the coordinates of its target a leader needs to constantly remind the team of where it is going and why it matters.
The only way to repair a split is to reestablish foundational vision and values, regardless of the cost, and start to build from there. Unfortunately, few leaders have the conviction and courage to take such drastic measures. Instead, they hope to outrun the approaching freight train and invariably get run over in the process.
Great leaders avoid the split by operating with intentionality around vision and values.
For a refresher on intentionality go to: INTENTIONALITY MODEL
Herb Mast is a Leadership Coach and Employee Engagement Specialist. Learn how he can assist you in implementing the principles and concepts presented here.