Contrary to the notion that leadership is a capacity you’re born with (or not), research has proven that leadership can be understood, taught and practiced so that anyone can become a more effective leader. On my never-ending quest to understand how individuals can acquire these skills, I discovered The Work of Leaders, How Vision, Alignment and Execution Will Change the Way You Lead.
The Work of Leaders model identifies tangible behaviors that can build one’s leadership effectiveness. The model proposes that leaders have three fundamental responsibilities: They must craft a vision, build alignment and champion execution. By distilling leadership into these three core competencies, the vision, alignment, execution (VAE) model provides a shared vocabulary that allows us to identify and address specific areas for improvement.
The VAE model is accessible and relatively easy to understand. It outlines the three steps (vision, alignment and execution) with three drivers for each step. A “driver” is a foundational element that lays the groundwork for that step and makes it achievable. Supporting each driver are two best practice behaviors. For example, within Crafting a Vision, the first driver is Exploration. The two behaviors that support Exploration are Remaining Open and Prioritizing the Big Picture.
In this way, the VAE model moves quickly from the conceptual to the practical and provides a framework for any self-aware individual to improve their leadership effectiveness.
It’s important to note that this work is not reserved for senior executives. While the responsibilities will be vastly different, the process of leadership can follow the same path whether you are the CEO or a leader on the front line.
Also significant is the notion that the steps in the model are not meant to be strictly sequential. Generally, crafting a vision will come before building alignment, while championing execution will be an end game. However, an effective leader will continue to reflect on and perhaps refine the vision throughout all phases of their work. Likewise, the work of building alignment is an ongoing process, not a check-box assignment.
For a better understanding of the VAE model of leadership, check out the rest of this series, with a post dedicated to each step in the model. As mentioned above, the source material is The Work of Leaders, How Vision, Alignment and Execution Will Change the Way You Lead. Also, Wiley/Everything DiSC offers an assessment tool which evaluates your tendencies toward the 18 best practice behaviors. The resulting profile report will identify key strengths and highlight leadership challenges, along with specific, actionable tips for how to lean into those growth edges. Please contact me for more information about taking the Everything DiSC Work of Leaders Profile.
The next post in this series will focus on the work of Crafting a Vision.