Leaders On The Yellow Brick Road

Most of us remember the “Wizard of Oz” where Dorothy is trying to find her way home and she is told to follow the yellow brick road to find the great “oz” who would tell her how to get home.  Dorothy begins a journey in which along the way she picks up a Tin man who needs a heart, a scarecrow who needs a brain,  and a lion who needs courage.  How applicable to leaders today.

All of us try to find our way home.  Home represents the place of our natural gifts, talents, and abilities.  Home is the place where work feels like play.  Home is the place where we grow and strive to become all we were created to be.

Sometimes in our quest for growth we are unable to gauge where we are in the process.  At these times, it is important to have LEADERS who have the HEART to cast vision, the BRAINS to chart the course, and the COURAGE to endure to the end.

Leaders must have:

  • HEART to cast vision – people want to follow leaders who know where they are going.  Do you have a vision?  Have you written the vision so that others may read it and run with it?  If the answer is no, commit to writing the vision this week.
  • BRAINS to chart the course – people want to know that as a leader you have a HOW behind the vision.  Have you communicated to your people how you plan to accomplish the vision?  If not, set a firm date to communicate the vision and chart the course.
  • COURAGE to be committed to the cause to the end – people want to know that as they begin the journey with you as a leader, that they will complete the journey in victory and that you have the courage to navigate through obstacles.  How courageous have you shown yourself to be?

Like Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Lion, take action this week as a leader to display the heart, the brains, and the courage to those who are following you on their yellow brick road.