Before what and how should come why. If you want to bring people along with you and bring out their best, first tell a story. Why are we here? Imagine journeying together on a grand adventure? Imagine what could be?

Tolstoy said “Art is infection.” An artist has a feeling she wants to share, and if she makes good art, effective art, the audience catches that very same feeling.

Lead others with rules and procedures and how-tos and you might end up with a seaworthy ship. Lead, though, with vision, with artfulness, with a compelling why, and you have a chance at an excellent journey, a shared life-worthy adventure worth talking about and remembering.