Leading In Crisis: The Perfect Time to Reflect On Your Personal Vision

Experiencing a crisis is hard. Leading through a crisis adds an extra layer of pressure and responsibility. Leaders are concerned for their people, their companies and a myriad of other issues. Navigating decisions when uncertainty prevails can be particularly burdensome. 

In crisis, leaders must lead from the front. But how do you do that and make decisions when you don’t have all the answers and may be unsure yourself? It helps to know your true north, your purpose, your personal vision for your leadership. It can serve as the guiding light for your decisions and actions.

In Stephen Covey’s leadership classic, The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, Covey introduces the idea of crafting your own mission statement as part of his second habit: begin with the end in mind. “The single most important and far-reaching leadership activity that you will ever do is to develop a personal mission statement—and then bring that sense of purpose to the people around you,” says Covey. 

So, what is a personal vision statement? It’s often a long term, high-level snapshot that captures the purpose of your existence, defining who you are and how you will live. It might be helpful to think of it as a bridge that leads you to the future – your best self, best work. 

A personal vision statement provides a roadmap for you to live and lead intentionally. It offers a framework for decision making. Keeps you motivated. More importantly, it inspires others, and there’s no question inspiration is important to followers. Have your ever worked for someone who clearly had no vision for themselves or their role? Think about what that was like. Incredibly discouraging I’ll bet. Who wants to be that kind of a leader?

Today, many of the top leaders in the world have a personal vision statement. How about you? If the answer is “yes” then you’re ahead of the game.  We encourage you to periodically review it and evaluate its efficacy for your leadership. Establishing your personal vision is an iterative process. It’s not meant to be fixed, rather it should evolve throughout your life. There’s also no right or wrong in terms of format or number of words. I’ve seen one sentence, paragraphs, entire stories and a series of bulleted statements. It simply needs to speak to you, reflecting a concise expression of your innermost values and direction. After all, this is … personal. Make sure it’s your own.

If you don’t currently have a personal vision statement, now is the time to create one. Here are some things to remember. It should be comprehensive in scope and consider all aspects of your life. We’re often asked, should I have two vision statements, personal and professional? Our response is always the same, are you two different people or are you one person who leads as your real self? Make sure it’s the latter. Authentic leaders are the most effective leaders. 

Wanting a personal vision is the easy part. Articulating it can be daunting. Take your time, be thoughtful, and dig deep. Stretch yourself. You want a personal vision that is honest and aspirational. It requires introspection, self-analysis, and clarity of mind. It’s not something you produce in a day. Rather it will likely take several drafts over days, weeks, even months. 

Here are five steps to fuel your thinking and help get you started in a meaningful way. Ask yourself:

1. What is my purpose? If there were just one significant thing in my life that I could achieve, what would it be?If I could make an important impact at work or in my profession, what would it be? 
2. What are my passions? This is what creates energy in your life. When we spend our time on what we do well and enjoy, our lives have meaning. What are the things that energize me and bring value to my life? Am I engaged in meaningful activity and relationships? What are they? Is there an issue or cause that is an enduring theme in my life? What am I most committed to? Is there a common thread?
3. What will be my leadership legacy? How do I want my leadership to be remembered? Is there a lasting contribution that I’ve made or want to make; something that will be lasting because I have lived and worked all these years?
4. What are my values. These are enduring beliefs and principles that inform your behavior and decisions. Less is more here because it forces you to focus on what’s truly important. Try starting with 10-15 words or phrases but do your best to narrow it down to 5 or less. This is not about what you think should be your values, but rather a reflection of how you really feel.
5. What is my personal vision. Reflect on your responses to all of the above. Create a statement or series of bullets that capture your personal vision. Ask yourself, is this the vision statement that best represents who I am, what I can do and what I want to be? Can I live this vision? Share your draft with people who know you well and ask for input and actionable suggestions on how you can make your vision a reality. Once you get it just right, commit to an action plan that will help you do just that.

Leaders with the self-awareness and drive to establish and evolve their personal vision are more likely to be most satisfied and successful over the long term. Use it as a personal framework for your life. Every time you make an important decision, use it as your guide. Famed motivational author Simon Sinek says “Most of us live our lives by accident – we live as it happens. Fulfillment comes when we live our lives on purpose.” If ever there is a time to lead with purpose, it’s in a crisis.