Leadership and Meaning

Effective leaders understand that leadership and the "will to meaning" are inextricably linked. A leader is one who can articulate a compelling vision and communicate that vision to his or her followers. To be truly effective, the connection that calls people to follow a leader is one that resonates with the follower's own "will to meaning." The vision affects the follower because, at some deep level, the achievement (and pursuit) of the vision connects the follower with his or her own sense of meaning and purpose in life.

Why does this matter? Because leaders need to accept the challenge that this connection to meaning brings with it. Not all who walk through the door (or who may currently be in the leader's employ) are called to the vision. That doesn't make the follower a bad person; it just means that they are not the right person for this particular organization. Leaders need to identify those for whom the organization's mission is part of something deeper and more profound for the individuals who are a part of it. Without understanding this connection, leaders to often fall into the trap of looking merely for the right "skill set" - the technical attributes that seem to "qualify" someone for a particular position.

Successful leaders are those who are able to articulate a compelling vision and who systematically identify and groom followers for whom the organization's mission is far more than a paycheck.