{"id":3079,"date":"2017-07-24T07:23:06","date_gmt":"2017-07-24T12:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/?p=3079"},"modified":"2017-07-10T11:52:22","modified_gmt":"2017-07-10T16:52:22","slug":"how-to-set-direction-when-the-leader-is-not-sure-where-to-head-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/flevy.com\/blog\/how-to-set-direction-when-the-leader-is-not-sure-where-to-head-next\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Set Direction When the Leader Is Not Sure Where to Head Next"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor\u2019s Note: \u00a0Peter DiGiammarino is a professional CEO and founder of growth strategy consulting firm, IntelliVen. \u00a0IntelliVen is also an author on Flevy, producing a series of frameworks covering a variety of management and leadership topics. \u00a0View all this Flevy materials here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

* * * *<\/p>\n

\"Leaders-Job\"
Figure 1. A leader sets direction, aligns resources, and motivates action.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Leaders set direction<\/b>,\u00a0aligns resources<\/b>, and\u00a0motivates action<\/b>\u00a0as suggested by\u00a0the panels in Figure 1.\u00a0 Another way to put it is that a leader develops<\/b>,
\nholds<\/b>, nurtures<\/b>, communicates<\/b>, and\u00a0drives<\/b>\u00a0to achieve a vision.<\/p>\n

As in Figure 2, it helps to think of the leader holding a map, like Harry Potter\u2019s Marauder\u2019s map that is always changing,\u00a0making sense of it, and navigating the course with those led looking on. Wise leaders constantly check with their top team to confirm that they are headed toward the same goals, in the same way, and for the same reasons.<\/p>\n

\"Slide21\"
Figure 2: A leader develops, holds, nurtures, communicates, and drives to achieve a vision.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The best leaders are always open to input from their top team to tweak goals and plans along the way. Clarity starts with the leader.\u00a0 If the leader is not clear then no one else can be clear. \u00a0A leader either:<\/p>\n