LEADERSHIP IS SUSTAINED ON VISION

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he – Proverbs 29:18

Leadership without a clear vision is doomed to mediocrity and failure; it cannot reach full potential. Outside of vision is confusion, as well as disorder, rebellion, anarchy, uncontrolled licence and frustration.

True leadership is founded on, developed, and sustained by the leader’s vision. People drift into pointless, meaningless, listless existence in the absence of a captivating vision. Vision generates focus, direction, stability, balance, order, and the consciousness of a divine mission.

“Foresight is the “lead” that the leader has” says Robert Greenleaf in ‘The Servant as Leader.’ A leader who has lost the “lead” – his visionary cutting edge – is reduced into a mere nominal ‘figurehead,’ reacting with ‘fire-brigade’ approaches to events.

One of the reasons why vision is key to success in leadership is that vision promotes trust, which is the foundation of any successful human enterprise. Trust binds people to an ideal, sets aside doubts, and casts away fear. Those who trust will align with the vision and do what has to be done. Those who lack trust in the common language and purpose of the vision, will find it difficult working together. They will instinctively turn away and choose another path.

Vision provides driving power, it generates zeal and enthusiasm that sees you through tough times, making the unreachable reachable and challenges attainable. Vision generates commitment, devotion, and stability (Isaiah 6:1-6). Vision provides focus (direction), stretch (endurance), and lift (elevation).

One person with a belief is equal to a FORCE of ninety-nine who only have an interest.
(John Stuart Mill, cited in George Barna’s Turning Vision into Mission).

Vision keeps you steady, enabling your faith to be maximized. It is that igniting spark of purpose that can energize, vitalize and inspire people to do what has to be done. Vision gives meaning where meaning is lacking, and enhances meaning where meaning already exists. Vision reaches passionately out to the future and draws it into the present.