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Inspiration

Envision and co-create the future

definition I once heard of leadership that has problems represents a type of innovative thinking that
stuck with me is that leadership is the ability to truly visionary leaders possess," he wrote.
transform vision into reality. That description
A encompasses a world of action in few words, You can make it happen
enough to fill entire books. To turn vision into reality, a leader must bring multiple
skills to bear. According to George Bradt, senior contributor
First, you need vision. Why do some have it and others at Forbes, people follow visions and values when they
not? And why can some people picture things no one commit to them, see them turned into guiding principles
before them has dreamed of, while others can picture they can follow, practice them consistently and
only things that have been done before? Is have them reinforced. He expounded on
the ability to visualize a desired result these elements, as follows:
inherent, or can it be learned?
1. Commit to values. [I]f you
Columnist James Kerr believes want your people to commit to
vision can be developed. In your vision and values, you
an Inc. magazine article need to let them co-create
titled "5 steps for becoming them," Bradt wrote. "Tell
a visionary leader," he and you'll get compliance.
wrote, "While it may be Invite contribution and
true that some seem to you'll get contribution.
have been born with an Commitment requires
aptitude to anticipate real co-creation."
the future, all is not lost
if you happen to lack 2. Turn your values into
such natural talent." followable guiding

You can grow in principles. "People may
vision know [values are] good.
But they don't know
Kerr offered five steps what to do with them," he
for developing leadership wrote. "Guiding principles
skills: tell them what to do without
the constraint of policies."
1. Practice re-imagining
how things are. "Taking the 3. Practice value-based
time to ponder alternatives to guiding principles consistently.
your firm's current ways of doing "Commitment gives you desire.
things and exploring possibilities for Guidelines give you direction. Practice
change can be a portal to seeing the future," makes it stick," he said.
he wrote.
4. Reinforce your vision and values over and over
2. Adopt an outside-in perspective. "Seeing the business again. "As the CEO, owner, leader, you must own the
from an outsider's point-of-view is enlightening," he vision and values," he stated. "And you must own them
noted. "The practice can inform new ways of thinking all the time."
and doing."
Thriving in today's payments sphere requires singular
3. Ask, Why not? "When identifying options, don't give vision. We have strong leaders doing astounding things.
up on a preferred solution just because it first appears
impossible to realize," he advised. Why not join their ranks and co-create the future you want
with your team by your side?
4. Seek synergies. "Leverage ideas and concepts from
like-minded people," he said.

5. Integrate disparate ideas into your thinking. "The act
of connecting disparate thoughts and theories together
to produce new and ground-breaking solutions to today's Kate Gillespie, President and CEO
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