How to Harness Your Visionary Leader Wild Child
By VICKY BROWN
We all have a million ideas as leaders
- streamline the team’s workload with this automation or process
- drive more client value with this system or that
- develop this product to address client needs
Is it all just swimming around in your head.
Do you find you’re excited but just can’t seem to get started or accomplish anything
That’s because you’re trying to squeeze things into the margins.
And I’m not throwing stones – this has actually been my Achilles’ heel. I have a great idea for a project, or I commit to read more, or I want to write a class or two. I guess in my mind, these are creative, fun activities – so instead of truly organizing a timeline to accomplish them – I think to myself….well, that’s the ‘fun’, creative thing to work on.
So, once I’ve finished my work ‘chores’ then I can have some free time to work on the other stuff. And more often than not, that means weekends, or evenings, or some other time that shouldn’t have anything to do with work.
Not only does it blur work and play, but it rarely means the ‘thing’ gets done in a timely manner. Because I’m not putting dedicated time into it.
Now, I make sure everything goes in my project management system. We use Asana. Of course there are tons of systems, and you should use what works for you. But just be sure to use one – and it has saved my sanity. In fact, I even figured out a way to use it to enable the flow of my creative juices.
I have a master task called Ideating. And whenever I get struck by some bright idea (usually when I’m in the shower – why is that?!) I jot it down in a subtask under the Ideating master task (um, as soon as I’m out of the shower).
The Master Task lives on Friday – so each Friday, I go through the revelations that have struck me during the week, and decide when they should be acted on. Then I turn them into their own separate task, assign them a date, and now they are actually scheduled – and not in the ‘margins’ of my time. They are legit projects, that are planned.
Now, truthfully there are some things that aren’t so easily scheduled as a project. Something like – read more books – for instance. OK, here is how you tackle that.
First how many is ‘more’. No seriously, how many books do you want to read in a month, or quarter, or even a year. Once you know that, you can do one of a couple of things – you can select the books, and schedule them into your calendar. Or you can block out time to simply read. Even if you don’t know quite yet what you’re reading. And track your progress. You can use a reading app or even a simple spreadsheet. When you can actually see progress – well, that’s really motivating!
“… Don’t forget to feed that visionary brain of yours! Set aside time for activities that you know will spark your creativity“
And remember to mix it up – alternate between work related books and something purely enjoyable, even guilty pleasures help! Remember, the key is to make it a habit, not a chore. So start small if you need to – even 10 minutes a day can make a big difference over time.
The next thing I want you to think about – no, I really mean THINK about it – is the Power of ‘No”. And in fact, this might be the hardest part of us visionary types to do – but it’s crucial. Sure, maybe you CAN do everything – but you absolutely can’t do everything all at once. You’ve got to pace yourself. Learning to say ‘no’ – or at least ‘ not right now’ to some ideas, well, that’s what will allow you to fully to commit to other bright ideas popping up. Listen, it’s not about limiting yourself; it’s about focusing your energy where it matters most.
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How about giving your creativity fuel. Don’t forget to feed that visionary brain of yours! Set aside time for activities that you know will spark your creativity – whether that’s reading, taking walks in nature, or having brainstorming sessions with other innovative thinkers. Remember, your ability to generate great ideas is your secret sauce. The goal isn’t to stifle that creativity, but to channel it effectively.
So, my fellow visionary wild child, here’s the bottom line: Your ideas are your superpower. But like any superpower, they need to be harnessed and directed to truly make an impact. And when you create systems to capture, prioritize, and act on your ideas, you’re not stifling your creativity – you’re giving it room to breathe.
Don’t let those brilliant ideas get lost in the shuffle of daily life. Give them the time and attention they deserve. Schedule them, nurture them, and watch them transform from fleeting thoughts to tangible realities.
Remember, every world-changing innovation started as a spark in someone’s mind. And when you learn to manage your visionary tendencies, you’re not just improving your own productivity – you’re paving the way for ideas that could reshape your team and your business, or even your industry.
So go ahead, embrace your inner visionary wild child. Just make sure to give it a solid framework to play in.
Now, go forth and create! But first, put it in your calendar.