One of the specific outcomes of reading Leading Jesus’ Way, and participating in the Triune Leadership Services Online Training is the development of your Leadership Portrait.
As a leader, it is important for you to share information about yourself with your team. Communicating your philosophy on leadership, as well as your purpose, values, and expectations is a great way to build authentic relationships with your staff.
What is Included in a Leadership Portrait?
A description of your philosophy on leadership
Key mentors and events in your life that have shaped your philosophy on leadership
Your personal purpose
Your personal values
An overview of what people can expect from you as a leader and what you expect from them
Benefits of Developing and Sharing Your Leadership Portrait
Clarifies who you want to be as a leader so you can be true to yourself
Provides direction for both your short-term and long-term decisions and actions
Celebrates those key people and circumstances in your life that helped you become the leader you are
Builds relationships at a deeper level which will strengthen your team
Illustrates vulnerability and transparency which are great traits of a servant leader
Paints a clear picture for what people can expect from you as their leader
Leads to high performance in all aspects of your life
I recently had the opportunity to work with over 50 leaders of an organization in the development and sharing of their Leadership Portraits. Consistent with my past experiences, it was an extremely impactful day.
It is always emotional, as people share about those people and events that have impacted their life. It is a very engaging time, where leaders learn more about their peers than they ever knew, even though they had worked together for many years. And everyone comes away from the experience closer to each other, and more united as a team.
The establishment of your Leadership Portrait is not to be taken lightly. It will take some time, thought and energy to put it together. But I guarantee you will be a more effective leader in all areas of your life for committing to this process.
So what are you waiting for? Pick up a copy of Leading Jesus’ Way and you will find all the help you need to discern your personal purpose, your values, and your Leadership Portrait. I look forward to hearing progress reports as you develop and share your Leadership Portrait with your team.
These are totally excellent points. All I can add is — don’t go overboard. Keep your portrait short and memorable. After all, you will be sharing it with everyone you work with.
Here’s what I mean about being short. Here’s by portrait…
1. Leaders support people by using the organization.
2. Managers control people to support the organization.
3. When you believe in people and communicate that to them, rarely do they disappoint.
4. Glass is half full for vision. Glass is half empty for execution.
5. Glass has enough water to drown you mentality for all aspects of planning.
With each point share a story to make what you do and believe more memorable.
Chris, thanks for sharing your Leadership Portrait. It is really neat that you have a habit of sharing this with your team members! And I couldn’t agree more on the importance of stories behind the points of your Portrait. It is those stories that help you become a real person to those you are leading. That will build relationship and lead to high performance. Awesome!
I’m also considering theme songs that would make what I share even more memorable. Holding Out For a Hero really resonates with me — allowing me to share my power lifting hobby and emphasize the heavy lifting I’ve helped clients with in industry.
Chris, I have heard 100’s of leaders share their Leadership Portrait in my work with clients, but I have never heard anyone sing a theme song when sharing. That would definitely be memorable, and would unquestionably illustrate your realness as a person, and build relationships to new levels. Fabulous!!