Why Vision Is the Hardest—and Most Important
A few years ago I asked my spiritual mother, Marilyn Hickey what she believed was the most difficult hurdle she had to overcome in all her years of ministry. “Casting vision,” she said. Her quick and short reply caught me off guard. She explained that even though she was a great communicator, casting vision and motivating her team to pick up the vision God had given her was still something she struggled with.
Effective leaders understand that one of the most important and difficult responsibilities they have is casting vision for their organization. Organizations without a vision are on a journey to nowhere. Their teams get caught up in petty squabbles. They waste their time, energy, and effort on things that have nothing to do with their mission. Yet in spite of all of this, leaders struggle.
One report said only 1 in 10 leaders know how to cast vision properly. Inc. Magazine polled some of the top CEOs in the country and asked them, “What percentage of your employees know and understand your company’s top 3 priorities?” The CEOs response was 64%. The same question was posed to the employees—the actual number was 2%. These CEOs could run a company, but couldn’t cast vision.
“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.”
— Jack Welch
"Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality."
— Warren G. Bennis
“And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
— Habakkuk 2: 2-3 (KJV)
In order for vision to be caught by your team members, it has to be believed and understood. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions to help you become a “Master Caster”:
“Wear” the vision. You have to own it and model it yourself before anyone else will follow.
Be clear. State it simply and plainly so people can “get it” quickly.
Be confident. If you’re not sure where you’re going, why would anyone else want to follow you?
Be creative. Nobody likes to go on a boring trip.
Repeat, repeat, repeat. People learn through repetition, plus they face continual distractions that will try to pull them off course.
No one becomes a “Master Caster” overnight. In fact, it’s a lifelong process. But the more you work at it and the more effective you become, the greater increase you’ll begin to see in your team’s passion, faithfulness, and productivity.
If this Leadership Lifter has blessed you, please share with a friend!
God is for you!
Pastor Blunt
Recommended Book:
The Power of Simplicity | by Jack Trout and Steve Rivken