WHY VISION IS IMPORTANT
Research proves that vision is a key indicator of success, and keeps the leader(s) in check to ensure that they are working to serve the organization and its clientele/employees instead of being self-serving (Ken Blanchard, Leading at a Higher Level).
However, when we abdicate setting, casting, and following a 'vision', we act in a manner far less Godly than we understand. Many biblical characters (David, Moses, Paul) had a 'vision' for their life and their “organization”. When we realize that the Kingdom of God is participatory in nature, we then realize that 'visioning' fosters participation.
Although vision is an indicator of success, I believe that leaders can not rest on a strong 'vision' alone. During his time with the disciple, Jesus had as strong a vision for his people as I have ever seen. Yet there was an issue – the disciple’s level of faith had to continually rise (John 2:22, 14:1, 20:8). Jesus realized that even with a great vision that if he was to be successful as a leader, faith would need to increase in order for his disciples to carry out the vision and so he appeared to them after his death on a number of occasions (John 20:19 - 21:25). In appearing to his disciples Jesus was able to raise the morale of his disciples. John Maxwell states that high morale is a ‘great elevator’ – in that it causes the team to function at a higher level, it is a ‘great energizer’ – in that it helps people to continue to keep going, it is a ‘great eliminator’ – in that it seems to fend off what might otherwise be issues or problems and that it is a ‘great emancipator’ in that it frees a team to take risks in action and process. Jesus understood that without a shared vision ‘I simply share or announce to you my plan as our plan, then you have no emotional commitment’ (Stephen R. Covey, The 8th Habit, From Effectiveness to Greatness) and regardless of how great the vision is when something perceptibly better comes along people then follow the “better”. In appearing to his disciples after his death Jesus was helping to instill a shared vision. It is not that I am making the case that a shared vision usurps God’s voice; rather, if God’s voice includes the participation of others, then our responsibility in fulfilling the call of God includes achieving a shared vision.
Without a shared vision, ‘I simply share or announce to you my plan as our plan, and then you have no emotional commitment’ and regardless of how great the 'vision' is when something perceptibly better comes along, people the follow the “better.” - Stephen R. Covey, The 8th Habit, From Effectiveness to Greatness
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