Welcome to another week of the Transformation Leadership Series (TLS). For the past two weeks, we discussed leaders and burnout. This week, let us discuss one of the ways by which, arguably the greatest leader of all time overcame burnout and accomplished the mission allocated to him. He overcame by VISION! I call him the greatest leader of all time because, if we agree that leadership is influence, then his influence is unchallengeable. Though he lived over 2000 years ago, till date, the book chronicling his actions and influence remains a bestseller and time and dates as we know them are reckoned with using his birth and death as the reference point. In reckoning time, "A.D." stands for anno domini, Latin for “in the year of the lord,” and refers specifically to the birth of Jesus Christ. "B.C." stands for "before Christ."
Leadership And Vision
What is Vision? Simply put it is what one sees. Jesus’ mission was to die and resurrect.
"Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God]." Romans 4:25 (AMPC)
The process of sacrifice was daunting and yet he endured and fulfilled the mission. But how was he able to endure?
"… for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. [Psa 110:1]" Hebrews 12:2 (AMPC)
Jesus endured because of what he set his sights/vision upon. Vision is key to finishing any great endeavor. Again, what is Vision? It has been described in different ways by different people. Let us consider some of these definitions of vision.
“Vision is the lifeblood of any organization. It is what keeps it moving forward. It provides meaning to the day-to-day challenges and setbacks that make up the rumble and tumble of real life.” —Michael Hyatt, CEO, Thomas Nelson. This CEO is very correct. Without the lifeblood in the human body, humans die. It is same for organizations and families. Consider the following statement from the wisest man who ever walked the planet in the Old Covenant,
“Where there is no vision, the people perish…" Proverbs 29:18 (KJV).
Vision indeed can be likened to lifeblood. Having a vision that is plain to comprehend is key to the leadership enterprise if the followers are to flourish and not perish. Vision motivates and enables the leader to endure whatever setbacks may come until the vision is realized.
Some Characteristics Of Vision
Habakkuk 2:2-3 (AMPC)
2 And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day. [Heb 10:37-38]
- Visions must be written down—not simply imagined and abstract. Writing down what was received by revelation (inner spirit vision) also imprints the revelation on the mind, sometimes deepening its meaning.
- Visions must be plain, distinct, clear and self-explanatory. In fact, it must be so plain that, if someone was running by or moving hastily past the vision statement, they would understand without much hassle. This is why it is said that a vision should be able to be communicated in an elevator speech/pitch.
- Visions must be written down on something tangible—tablets, board, slab, tablet, plank, wall etc. It must be legible, “that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by”.
- Visions are meant to be read. The Hebrew word for read is qârâ' and means to call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim, utter a loud sound, to summon, invite, call for, call and commission, appoint, call and endow etc. In short, visions are meant to be recited out loud or proclaimed once understood hence the importance of it being simple and straight to the point. When people hasten by your vision as a leader and they understand it, they may buy into it, invite it, summon it.
- Visions are not for today but for an appointed time in the future. The Hebrew word for appointed time is mô‛âdâh and can be translated as appointed place, appointed time, appointed meeting, appointed sign or signal or even tent of meeting. Jesus’ vision lead to the Cross (appointed place of meeting) and ultimately to the restoration of all things.
- Vision requires patience. “[I]t will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it”
- Visions are meant to be fulfilled. “[I]t will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day”.
These are but a few of the characteristics of a vision. Management schools and authors the world over have borrowed from the wisdom of Habakkuk 2:2-3, howbeit, not giving credit to the passage. Leadership without vision is a mistake waiting to happen.
Many have vision. The challenge that has plagued some is the ability to make it plain such that it is easily understood and bought into. We’ll end here for today and continue next week.
