Verb-centric direction
Feb 10 - by Kaleb Heitzman
A leader must have the ability to offer direction and stir their followers in such a way that they pursue this direction actively. Direction must be verb-centric and understood in the sense of leadership being a dynamic process rather than being noun-centric and static. This is essential because many groups and organizations spend too much time describing the direction they want to go instead of picking a direction and moving forward.
“A leader must know where they are headed in life, both professionally and personally, with strength to persist even in the face of setbacks and failures.” (Warren Bennis | On Becoming a Leader). Bennis also gives leaders very practical advice in On Becoming a Leader. – “If you don’t know where you are going, you can’t possibly get there.” Bennis says that leaders must have vision.
I agree, but from a strictly foundational point of view, leaders have and offer direction be it towards some ultimate vision or something as simple as achieving completion towards a common objective. As leaders, we cannot offer direction if we do not know where we are headed personally. Verb-centric direction is vital to the health of the community that you lead. Our direction must be action oriented or we will get caught up in the details that describe our direction.
Leadership passes from one individual to the next, but leadership is a process that never fully ends so it must be verb-centric. Yes we achieve goals and such but then what? We generally move towards our next goal. Verb-centric is action oriented while noun-centric seeks to contain something into a definable box. Personally I desire for my leadership to be contagious without containment. Leadership must be outside of the box if you desire growth.
In order for leaders to offer direction to others, they must know why they are pursing the course they have chosen. Leaders have the responsibility to cast direction. Followers and leaders together have the responsibility in engaging direction. John Maxwell says, “anyone can steer a ship, but it takes a leader to chart the course.” Leaders have and must offer direction because they are the true course charters. They are the rudder on the ship that keeps their team on course.