Why Vision Matters

Michael, that's awesome that you were included in Seth's book. Congrats!

I totally agree about the importance of vision. IMO, too many people seem to be motivated by self-ambition, and too many businesses, non-profits, and even churches seem to be motivated by self-perpetualization – maintaining or growing the org has become more important than the vision. Those motivations can only work for a little while.

Long-term it's got to come back to something bigger than what's in it for me or what's in it for our org, it's got to be about how the org is going to make the world a better place.

I consider myself a visionary and dreamer. Its what gets me through each day. It seems tho when you around others that are not they tend to bring you down. In my current work situation the leadership does not have that mentality and therefore creates an atmosphere where we need to only think of what we are doing at this moment and the future gets left behind. Hence there is no growth on his part and I just walk away with my visions stuck in my head.

Great article Mike and I'm enjoying Seth's book. Lack of vision or being cloudy about direction is a hard one to take. We need to be leaders with a positive outlook at the future. Being smart about decisions yes, but believing and building for a strong tomorrow.

Vision is extremely important but so is knowing you are looking in the right direction. Is your vision focused on the right thing? Maybe that's the difinition of this kind of vision – laser focus.

"Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he that keeps the law." Proverbs 29:18 (NASB)

Vision is such a necessity. Those people. ministries, and companies that don’t have it always seem to make way for those that do. Great article!

I like Peter Druckers' balanced approach to vision. "Vision without execution is delusion."

Great reminder Mike! I might have mentioned here recently that I was a soon-to-be Dad, well I am now(can’t help but SMILE) and vision is of paramount importance to me especially now that I’m a father. I recently finished our family constitution with the Family Vision being one of the sub points. I felt that I needed to clearly and deliberately define what our vision (and values) were. My wife loves it when I share my heart regarding the vision I have for our little nation. It gives her a sense that I have a plan, that I know where we’re going and that she and our recently added crying machine have a part in it.

I think vision is very important as we continue to keep lean in this economic condition. Money is tight and you team has to share that vision. It's about communication. That's what I keep saying. It's about communicating that vision making sure that everyone knows what, why, when, etc. Communicaiton…Period.

Seth's book is a perfect example of vision – the vision possible in today's network of digital interaction and social media – with the ebook potential of today. It's packed with links and flavor that promote; make a difference within your self, your community, your world and have fun doing it.

Vision is not exclusive to leadership within a business, church or even global community, it is the power behind an individual choice. What leadership often overlooks unless times are "good" is that individual with a burning need to have fun.

Recent history with the Dot-Com implosion in 2001 showed fun run-amuck for profit and taking advantage of the stupid consumer. However, the leaders of that time are still going strong, with a focus on fun and innovation within their walls, aligned with compassion and bringing benefit to the consumer.

Leaders of today are asked to be even more aware of the fun needed in the lives of all, because fear can not reside long within laughter. But it needs to be laughter in joy of the moment, not laughing at the silliness of others. Leaders can not use their personal vision, for their personal objectives, without a healthy respect, compassion and generosity for the vision and leadership of organizations that present challenges.

Without challenge – vision dies.

i think vision is everything. In the simplest way.. without vision we are lost and going through the motions blindly trying to find our way. i have felt this but i also know what it is to follow a leader with vision. which leads me to believe that being a good follower of the vision set by the leader makes for a stronger team.

I love this post. It reminds me to not only have vision but challenges me to set vision for those around me in way that is contagious for them and makes them want to walk out that vision.

thanks michael. i needed to read this.

Working for a K-12 school district in California, I can relate to your post. We are very lucky in our district that our Superintendent has vision. His monthly meetings and focus on keeping as many people employed in a severe budget crunch as possible has been very well received.
This open communication and a positive vision for the future has gone a long ways with two powerful unions and hundreds on employees who were on edge about their jobs.
So many neighboring districts had no communication… except for the pink slip on their desk.
It was also helpful that our district had vision a few years back to put some money aside for a rainy day… the rains have certainly come…
My recent post Do You Have a Heartfelt Goal?

This is an excellent post! I'll be sharing it with my management team. Thank you!

In truth, immediately i didn’t understand the essence. But after re-reading all at once became clear.

Very interesting and amusing subject. I read with great pleasure.

Michael,
Thank you for sharing this. We are literally in the process of putting our vision on paper. Our company has been around for 2o+years and has NEVER had a clear, written vision. Over the past 6 months we have realized exactly the same truth, that vision is what carries us through. It changes the organization, and the people within, from trying to "stay afloat" to "Let's move forward & improved".
Great stuff, I love confirmation of what we are doing. Thank you for sharing.

Also, I have been following on twitter for a while and always appreciate your posts. Thanks for being a Linchpin. :-)

Erik

Vision. It’s hard to see without it.
When it become a casualty due to circumstances, it can blind us.

But vision rooted in principle is a vision harder to lose.
Principles that we believe in & live by make for a much more solid foundation when developing a vision.

Leadership is much more than influence.
And vision is much more than a goal.

Appreciate the post, MH!