Most of you know that Christmas is a very special holiday for me. I love every aspect of it and I fully engage myself in the endless activities that lead up to the special day. Ask my children and they will tell you about how I orchestrate elaborate and creative ways of giving gifts and make even the unwrapping of a present under the tree an event unto itself. Often, presents will be set out weeks before Christmas in ways that capture the attention and imagination of not only the one who will receive the gift, but the rest of the family as well, be it a present that is hung from the ceiling, buried in the back yard, encased in ice, or concealed in a bizarre or unusual wrapping method that shakes, makes noises, or is fifty times heavier than the actual gift inside. Why do I do this? I do this because I love to build the anticipation so that the act of gift giving is as memorable as the gift itself. I believe that people will remember the effort I invest more than whatever I may have placed in the box. My effort shows that I care about the recipient and that I want to build lasting memories of our relationship. A big part of that is in the days and weeks leading up to the big day.
Similarly, leaders know how to build anticipation within the ranks of their organizations. They know how to get everyone excited about the future possibilities and to dream about what could be if they all come together with a common mission, collective commitment, and coordinated effort. Good leaders can build excitement and enthusiasm among the people even before the first steps of a new journey are taken. They do it through being skilled in communication of all kinds. In the book Leadership: A Communication Perspective, Hackman and Johnson teach that great leader/communicators know that communication is a process, not a thing; involving the entire personality; circular, not linear; complex and irreversible. They tell stories, they paint pictures, they create brands, and they plant seeds of anticipation deep in the fertile grounds of the people who have joined the cause and are ready to give everything they have and are to make a difference.
As a leader, we must invest the time to create a mental image for the people who follow us, build anticipation and excitement about what is to come, and show people how much we care about them. Just as my family enjoys the fun of my creative gift giving, I strive to paint a picture of what can be with the people I am privileged to serve. Some say that I have the “spiritual gift of hype,” and perhaps I do, but it’s not empty hype. This hype is filled with my belief that we really can make extraordinary things happen. When I build anticipation in the ranks, I am doing my part to make the vision come to life and to pour myself into not only the task at hand, but more importantly, the people who have come together for the cause. Sometimes my methods will be oddly creative, but they will create memories that we’ll never forget. I encourage you to use creative anticipation as a tool to prepare your people for greatness and to build relationships that will last a lifetime.
Lead well.