Leadership is about vision. Not power.

Traffic jams on Mount Everest has caused the death of 10 climbers this past week. You might imagine the summit of Mount Everest to be a quiet, snowy peak far from civilisation. Severe overcrowding on the world’s highest mountain this year has caused insane delays at the peak in freezing temperatures, which has now become a death zone.

Why do folks climb Everest? To many folks, of course, it makes absolutely zero sense. It can cost you fingers, toes, hands, feet, noses, and life itself. Yet people do it every year. Why? The common answer, "Because it's there."

Whatever their reason, every climber will tell you that in preparation, they visualize success.  Develop a vision of what success looks like.

Leadership is about vision and responsibility. Not power. Most people long for a clear sense of purpose and direction in all facets of their lives. Without purpose and direction, people feel frustrated, confusion and eventually withdrawal. When a clear sense of purpose and direction is present, people feel focused.

If the people that work with you and for you have no clear sense of their purpose in the organization or in what direction they should be moving, the reason is one of two things - and both of them are unacceptable. Either you have not created a clear sense of purpose or direction for your people, or you have been ineffective in communicating it to your people.

Before you can communicate a long-term vision to others, you need to be clear in your own mind about your goals. If you can clearly visualize what it is you want and believe that you have the capability of achieving it, and if you are willing to invest both the necessary time and mental and physical energy in getting it, then you can have it. The way you think about yourself and your purpose makes you a better, more purposeful, effective leader. It's about your own outlook, passions and voice.

Vision without execution is just delusion.

The highest performing leaders create enlivening stories and myths that communicate the vision to the team. They never stop communicating about those. They want everyone to have a common view. On a peak performing team, every member plays his or her part and contributes. That only happens when everyone understands the ultimate goal. People long to work for leaders who inspire them with passion and energy around a vision.

It's a privilege and an opportunity to be in a position of leadership, to have the opportunity to pull people together and work towards a common goal. When you know what drives you, and when you share that purpose with others, the result is very powerful.

A sign of good leader is not having many followers, but ability to create many leaders of your vision. Welcome to the club!