Inspire a Shared Vision; Journal #2
Emma Luck
Developing Leadership
Wayne Kennedy
Monday March 2, 2015

In the video “Miracles on Ice” a coach named Herb Brooks meets with the United States Olympic Committee presenting a plan to turn the United States to turn a team full of amateur and collegiate hockey players into a gold medalist team. Herb Brooks is a great example of someone inspiring a shared vision not only to the board of the Olympics but in hopes of inspiring a full team of hockey players.
As a leader who is striving to share a vison amongst certain individuals or a whole group they must be able to look forward to the future. The leader must be able to have a sense of what’s possible if everyone works together to reach the end goal (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). Herb was able to see that everyone has their own talent. Why focus on certain individuals and their strengths, he looks at how beneficial it is to take those individual strengths and share them amongst everyone on the team. Sports bring people together who share a common bond through common experiences that can then be shared amongst teammates. Each person that someone comes in contact with will teach you something or will show you something that can never be replaced. Friendship and loyalty are the key points to growing a strong team through the sports process because of this you will eventually trust your teammates, coaches and then yourself (Curry, 2014). Herb has created a vison to share, an end goal in which him and the team will strive to reach. He has the motivation to inspire the team to reach a shared vison through teamwork and determination.
2.1. Envision the future Herb is a great example of an exemplary leader. In order to be an exemplary leader you have to be able to look forward by being able to envision the future (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). The vison cannot be carried out by just the leader it takes everyone, it’s a shared vision. When a vison is shared it will attract and keep interest to those you are attracted by the challenge and lead to higher levels of motivation and lead to more challenges. A leader must be able to imagine the possibilities and find a common purpose to achieve their end goal. They always keep the end in mind with a possible outcome.
2.1.1 Imagine the Possibilities A leader that is forward-looking is considered to be the second-most admired characteristics that people look for which results in people willingly following and participating in the shared vision (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). Reflecting on your past can help improve your future. It allows you to take your mistake and fix them so that you don’t make them again. Herb reflected on the past games that the United States played and explained why they did not work and how that making a team that works together and not relying on certain individuals you can become successful and reach the end goal, or in the case winning. A leader must attend to the present, looking at what’s going on now, notice what is getting in the way and what this tells you about where this is going (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). Herb noticed pretty fast that one of this the things getting in the way of the United States winning gold was the Soviet Union and Canada. He had to then remind himself of his end goal and start thinking about what it’s going to take to beat the Soviet Union and Canada. Prospecting the future has to always be thought of when being a leader. As a leader you always have to look into the future, gaze towards the horizon. You have to consider all aspects of life in the future and possible changes and challenges that can occur. You always need to know what’s coming after the hill and what around the corner (Kouzes & Posner, 2012). Herb is able to look at his end vision and anticipate the fight and skills that his team must withstand. He knows it’s not going to be easy but he is willing to try and beat them at their own game. As a leader you have to always have to be able