One of the things that makes a true leader stand out from the pack is that a leader has a destination in mind. More times than not, that destination is different from where everyone else is headed.
A true leader is someone who dreams. They are not content going towards a predetermined destination, but they dream up their own destinations and then begin to move in that direction. That’s not to say that good leaders cannot follow, in fact all good leaders are also good followers. The difference between a follower and a leader who is following is that the leader, regardless of where they are in the chain of command, always brings fresh ideas and perspectives to the table.
Ultimately, there may be someone higher up dreaming the big dream and setting the agenda, but the leader who is following can help alter the goals of that vision because of their own thoughts, ideas, and dreams. That’s the way it should be.
Author and speaker Florence Littauer has this to say about the dreams of a leader:
Dare to dream: Have the desire to do something bigger than yourself.
Prepare the dream: Do your homework; be ready when the opportunity comes.
Wear the dream: Do it.
Share the dream: Make others a part of the dream and it will become even greater than you had hoped.
A good leader is the best kind of follower to have. They not only know how to think with the same perspectives as the leader above them, but they also know how to think independently, which multiplies their value exponentially.
If you want to be a good leader, begin to dream. Big dreams make big things happen.