VISION

What is it?How is it developed?

Have you ever worked for a visionary leader?

Where was it?What was his/her vision?How did he/she share that vision?What skills did you observe that help this person to accomplish their vision?How did it feel to work with this person?What resulted from this vision?Please take five minutes to share with a partner about this experience

Where there is no vision, the people perish. Prov. 29:18

Vision gives hopeVision gives directionVision gives individuals a sense of their part in the big pictureVision encourages us to think beyond todayVision sets priorities for daily activities

VisionPersonal Vision

Flows from understanding personal missionIs grounded in beliefsIs grounded in an understanding of personal gifts and talentsIs fueled by personal passion

Organizational VisionFlows from organizational missionIs grounded in beliefsIs grounded in understanding strengths and weaknesses of organizationIs fueled by energy from leaders

Visionary LeadershipA balanced expression of SpiritualMentalEmotionalPhysical dimensions

Visionary Leadership is Transformative

It involves greatnessIt penetrates the ordinaryIt reaches through time to bring out the bestIt anticipates eventsIt influences the future It enables people to flourishIt perceives growth opportunities before they happen

It requires:

Committed to core values (which result from spiritual values)Clear inspirational visionRespectful empowering relationshipsInnovative courageous action

Commitment to values:

Embody a sense of personal integrityRadiate a sense of energy, vitality and willThey stand for somethingAre more self-aware and reflectiveFollow an inner sense of directionLead from the inside outExercise moral leadership

Examples of visionary leaderswith a commitment to core values:JesusMosesMahatma GandhiMary Robinson – former President of IrelandMarion Wright Edelman – founder Children’s Defense Fund

Clear, Inspirational Vision

A positive picture of the futureClear sense if direction on how to get thereCommunicate the vision regularlyEmbody the vision in their own livesTransmit energy to people giving them a sense of hope and confidence

Clear, Inspirational Vision – Cont.

Have the ability to see higher spiritual forces at work behind the scenes of events(Winston Churchill, George Washington –spoke about the “guiding hand” they felt)Sense the spiritual needs of follower-See the need for purpose and meaningDraw on ageless wisdom and present a new synthesis of old ideas

Examples of inspirational vision:

Sojourner Truth – free the slavesMartin Luther King – I have a dream…Billy GrahamNelson Mandela

Respectful, Empowering Relationships

Good relationships are the foundation for visionary leadershipAre deeply caring about peopleKnow how to listen and learn from othersPromote a partnership approachCreate a shared sense of vision and meaningDevelop team spiritResponsive to the real needs of peopleDevelop participative strategies to include people

Innovative, Courageous Action

Transform old mental maps to “outside the box” thinkingBalance of right brain and left brain thinkingSee the big pictureCreate innovative strategies for actualizing vision

Innovative, Courageous Action –Continued

Anticipate change and are proactive rather than reactive to eventsFocus on opportunities, not on problemsEmphasize win/win

To be a visionary leader we must:

Be willing to take initiativeStand for something we believe in passionatelyBe ready to take the heatPray for wisdom

Visionary Leadership Requires:

Total involvementTremendous workWillingness to put everything on the lineContinuous engagement

What is the reward for visionary leadership?

Making a genuine and substantive contribution to humanityKnowing you have done your bestBelieving you have left the world a better placeHeaven with more people there because of the way you lived your life

Qualities Needed for Visionary Leadership:

Imagination and creativityEngagementTangible resultsPenetrating self reflectionA dynamic relationship with God

How leadership models define vision:

Covey – Begin with the end in mind (2)Servant Leadership - Conceptualization, ForesightTransformational Leadership –Inspirational Motivation –Good to Great – Hedgehog ConceptPrimal Leadership - Visionary

Why is vision important?

Research in Transformational Leadership

Where does personal vision come from?

Spiritual gifts – passion What do you get really excited about ?What can you talk about all night?When you work on this topic/project time has no meaningAreas of skill – know thyselfAreas of knowledge – enjoy the topic