Leveraging an intent based approach to leadership created the environment that allowed for the innovation needed to take man to the moon. If this type of leadership can get a man on the moon in less than 10 years, where can this approach take your business?
In the world of business, understanding the company mission and vision is more than just a check-the box exercise. It's the compass that guides team members across the organization to meet the leaders Intent. Intent is no different than vision. Intent is about outcome!
Leaders Intent is used to interpret a leaders’ vision and place it into action. This allows team members at all levels to create the clarity and a framework needed for problem-solving, that enables initiative, and disciplined decision-making
The following story perfectly illustrates this point:
During President Kennedy’s inaugural visit to Cape Canaveral, he encountered a janitor. When this gentleman was asked what he was doing, the janitor replied, “I’m helping to get a man on the moon.” This isn't just a charming anecdote; it's a powerful testament to the difference clarity can make.
This story isn’t just special to me because it illustrates my point for this BLOG but while I was growing up my father was part of the space program. I spent much of my pre-teen years living on Florida’s space coast but I watched Neil Armstrong take his first steps onto the moon’s surface in Guaymas, Mexico because that’s where my father was working.
Back to the main point:
What we see in the janitor is someone who understood their role in the organization’s grand vision. This clarity doesn’t happen by accident. It must be deliberate. This happens when the mission is communicated, understood, and lived at every level of the organization.
Too often, companies struggle because their employees fail to see the bigger picture. Questions like, “Why do we exist?” and “What are we striving towards?” Can help create that type of clarity.
When a company's vision is crafted several layers above frontline workers, it becomes lost in translation. This is where intermediate leaders must translate that Bigger Picture into something that is more understandable. By creating connected or nested visions, leaders at every level can bridge the gap, transforming abstract goals into an actionable inspirational definition for team success.
Whenever I work with organizations we work through what I call, The Big 5!
Creating clarity around these five areas are key to meeting a leaders intent:
1. Mission/Vision
2. Priorities
3. Structure
4. Clarity of Roles
5. Cadence of Accountability
When clarity is created around these five areas—it's reduces internal pressures. Employees understand why the company exists, where it is going, how they fit, how their contributions matter, and what is truly expected of them.
Consider what it would mean for your organization if:
· Every team member knew their role and understood how they fit within the broader mission and were committed to the decisions of their leaders.
· Each member of your team exercised confident decision making aligned with company goals, without having to ask for permission.
· Leaders have the information they need to seize opportunities and respond to threats swiftly.
Leveraging an Intent based leadership style allows team members to understand the organization’s mission and their roles, they are empowered to take initiative and make decisions aligned with company objectives. This clarity transforms tasks into meaningful contributions, allowing individuals to see the Bigger Picture and their impact on the organization’s success. Like the janitor at Cape Canaveral, each person’s commitment propels the organization toward the organizations vision.
If you’d like to talk about how you might be able to integrate this type of leadership across your organization please reach out to me at: scott@TheProximityGroup.org
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