You shouldn’t be leading if you don’t know where we’re going, buddy.

My son Kai loves to lead when we’re walking somewhere. For instance, we’ll be heading down the aisle in a grocery store and he just happily takes the lead, not realizing he has zero idea where we’re going.

“Uh, Kai.” I’ll say.

He’ll turn, see me a little ways back, “Yeah, Daddy?”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t you think you might want to follow me, since I know where we’re going?”

“Oh, right,” he’ll say. Then he gets behind me, and by the time we finish that aisle, he’s out in front again. He’s five, give him a break.

But there’s a lesson there, and I can’t stress this point enough: The leader MUST know where the company is headed.

Sounds simple enough, but I meet with leaders every day and more than half don’t have a firm handle on where they are leading the company. You have to define what you’re trying to accomplish if you hope to accomplish it. “We’re just focused on delivering for our clients now” is not a vision.

Know where you’re pointing the ship and you’ll have a chance to find land. Otherwise, you’re unlikely to find the success you’re looking for.