Work of Leaders®: Turning Vision Into Alignment and Execution
Most leadership teams don’t struggle with effort or intent. They struggle with alignment—a shared understanding of where the organization is going, why it matters, and how leaders and teams contribute day to day.
Everything DiSC® Work of Leaders® helps leaders move from good intentions to consistent results by focusing on three core responsibilities of leadership: Vision, Alignment, and Execution. When leaders get these right, strategy stops living in slide decks and starts showing up in decisions, behaviors, and outcomes.
This post introduces the Work of Leaders framework and explains how Inspired Engagement uses it to help leaders and leadership teams build clarity, trust, and momentum.
What Is Work of Leaders®
Work of Leaders is a research-based leadership model and assessment developed by Wiley. It defines leadership not as a personality style, but as a set of observable behaviors that can be learned, practiced, and improved.
Rather than asking “What kind of leader are you?”, Work of Leaders asks a more useful question:
How effectively are you doing the real work leadership requires?
The model focuses on three outcomes every leader is responsible for delivering—regardless of role, industry, or experience level.
The Work of Leaders® framework is grounded in the research and insights from The Work of Leaders: How Vision, Alignment, and Execution Will Change the Way You Lead.
Rather than focusing on leadership style or personality, the authors define leadership by the outcomes leaders are responsible for creating—and the behaviors required to deliver them.
The Three Drivers of Leadership Success
1. Vision — Setting a Clear Direction
Effective leaders create a vision that is clear, compelling, and shared. Vision answers the question:
Where are we going—and why does it matter?
Many organizations have mission statements, but fewer have a vision that people can explain in their own words. Work of Leaders helps leaders:
Craft a focused picture of the future
Balance big-picture thinking with practical relevance
Communicate direction in a way others can internalize and act on
A strong vision creates energy. A vague one creates confusion.
2. Alignment — Getting People on the Same Page
Once direction is clear, leaders must create alignment—ensuring people understand:
What success looks like
How priorities connect to the vision
Where roles, decisions, and trade-offs fit
Alignment is not about agreement on everything. It’s about clarity and commitment, even when perspectives differ.
Work of Leaders highlights how leaders:
Build shared understanding
Encourage productive dialogue and healthy disagreement
Reduce silos and misinterpretation
When alignment is missing, execution slows and trust erodes.
3. Execution — Turning Plans Into Results
Execution is where leadership becomes visible. It’s how leaders:
Translate strategy into action
Set priorities and manage resources
Monitor progress and adapt when conditions change
Work of Leaders helps leaders identify gaps between intention and behavior—where follow-through breaks down or accountability becomes unclear.
Strong execution doesn’t mean rigid control. It means consistent progress toward what matters most.
The Work of Leaders® framework defines leadership through three outcomes—Vision, Alignment, and Execution—supported by specific, observable leadership behaviors. Framework developed by Wiley. Used here for educational and illustrative purposes.
Why Work of Leaders® Is Especially Powerful
Work of Leaders stands out because it:
Applies across levels—from emerging leaders to executive teams
Uses practical language leaders recognize immediately
Connects leadership behavior directly to organizational outcomes
The assessment provides leaders with insight into:
Their strengths and potential blind spots
How others may experience their leadership
Where to focus development efforts for the greatest impact
When used with a skilled facilitator, the model becomes a shared leadership language—reducing friction and increasing effectiveness across teams.
Curious what this looks like in real teams?
Our Strengths-Based Team Workshop helps intact teams turn individual strengths into shared accountability, collaboration, and performance.
How Inspired Engagement Uses Work of Leaders®
Inspired Engagement integrates Work of Leaders into leadership development in practical, high-impact ways, including:
Executive and senior leadership team workshops
Leadership retreats and strategy sessions
Manager and department-level leadership development
Culture and change initiatives
Our approach emphasizes:
Real organizational challenges—not generic scenarios
Candid dialogue and trust-building
Practical commitments leaders can apply immediately
Work of Leaders often pairs naturally with Everything DiSC® and The Five Behaviors® to create a comprehensive leadership and team-effectiveness strategy.
When Work of Leaders® Is a Strong Fit
Organizations often benefit most from Work of Leaders when:
Strategy feels clear at the top but fuzzy elsewhere
Leaders are working hard but not in sync
Execution stalls or accountability feels inconsistent
Teams are ready to move from discussion to action
If your organization is ready to strengthen leadership clarity and follow-through, Work of Leaders provides a proven, practical framework to guide the work.
What Teams Gain from Strengths-Based Team Development
When teams engage in intentional strengths-based work, they gain:
A shared language for understanding differences
Clearer roles and expectations
More productive conversations—especially during tension
Greater trust and psychological safety
Stronger alignment around goals and priorities
Instead of working around one another, teams learn how to work with one another.
Helping Teams Put Strengths Into Action
At Inspired Engagement, we work with intact teams to move beyond awareness and into application.
Our Strengths-Based Team Workshops are designed to help teams:
Understand individual and collective strengths
Explore how strengths show up in real work situations
Improve collaboration, communication, and accountability
Align strengths to team goals and performance expectations
The result is not just better understanding—but better results.
Ready to Explore Work of Leaders®?
If you’re interested in using Work of Leaders to strengthen leadership effectiveness in your organization, we’d be glad to talk.
Learn more about our leadership development services or contact Inspired Engagement to explore whether Work of Leaders is the right fit for your leaders and teams.
