28 JANUARY 2019

LEADERSHIP & VISION

Continuing from our discussion from last week, today we will examine principles required to fulfill vision. Vision is an integral part of leadership. If an organization is likened to a human body, vision is the ability of the organization to see where it is going. It is important for direction and fulfillment of purpose. Dr. Myles Munroe has written on the principles requisite for fulfilling personal vision. Today we will look at them and examine them but first what are principles?

PRINCIPLES DEFINED

According to the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary, the word Principle is derived from Latin principium which simply means  beginning. It defines principles thus:

1. In a general sense, the cause, source or origin of any thing; that from which a thing proceeds; as the principle of motion; the principles of action.
2. Element; constituent part; primordial substance.
3. Being that produces any thing; operative cause.
4. In science, a truth admitted either without proof, or considered as having been before proved. In the former sense, it is synonymous with axiom; in the latter, with the phrase, established principle.
5. Ground; foundation; that which supports an assertion, an action, or a series of actions or of reasoning. On what principle can this be affirmed or denied? He justifies his proceedings on the principle of expedience or necessity. He reasons on sound principles.
6. A general truth; a law comprehending many subordinate truths; as the principles of morality, of law, of government
7. Tenet; that which is believed, whether truth or not, but which serves as a rule of action or the basis of a system; as the principles of the Stoics, or of the Epicureans.
8. A principle of human nature, is a law of action in human beings; a constitutional propensity common to the human species. Thus it is a principle of human nature to resent injuries and repel insults.

Many leadership teachers have written on vision. The one of interest to our discussion today is the teaching of the late Dr. Myles Munroe in his book, “The Principles and Power of Vision: Keys to Achieving Personal and Corporate Destiny”. He enumerated the following as principles that enable the fulfilment of vision:

• Principle # 1: Be Directed by a Clear Vision
• Principle # 2: Know Your Potential for Fulfilling Vision
• Principle # 3: Develop a Concrete Plan for Your Vision
• Principle # 4: Possess the Passion of Vision
• Principle # 5: Develop the Faith of Vision
• Principle # 6: Understand the Process of Vision
• Principle # 7: Set the Priorities of Vision
• Principle # 8: Recognize People's Influence on Vision
• Principle # 9: Employ the Provision of Vision
• Principle # 10: Use Persistence in Achieving the Vision
• Principle # 11: Be Patient in the Fulfillment of Vision
• Principle # 12: Stay Connected to the Source of Vision

PRINCIPLE # 1: BE DIRECTED BY A CLEAR VISION

“To fulfill your vision, you must have a clear guiding purpose for your life. Having a clear guiding purpose will enable you to stay on track when you are tempted to be distracted by lesser or nonessential things”—Dr. Myles Munroe.

“The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.”—Peter Lord

The vision is the main thing and it must be clear and plain. In previous postings, we have said much on the importance of a vision being so clear or plain that a herald may run with it. The Message Bible Translation of Habakkuk 2:2 reads thus, “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run”.  

One challenge that plagues some leaders is that even though they do understand that the vision must be plain, they fail to answer the question, “plain to whom”? Most couch their visions in a way that the  vision, to them and by their estimation, is plain, but this is not good enough. It must be plain to everyone who may have a stake in it. It must be so simplified that it cannot be misunderstood.

Why must we be directed by a clear vision? The answer is “If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there”. — Lewis Carroll. Clarity of vision is necessary to properly comprehend and evaluate identity, location, purpose, goal, destination or destiny in life, the process to attainment of goals, timing and legacy.  The aforementioned are the focus of what is arguably one of the greatest leadership books of modern history authored by Dr. Abu Bako and titled, “Seven Fundamental Questions” 2005. The book focuses on the following questions:

1. Who am I? — Identity
2. Where am I? — Location
3. Why am I here? — Purpose
4. Where do I go from here? — Goal, destination or destiny in life
5. How do I get there? — Process
6. When do I start and when do I end? — Timing
7. What will I be remembered for? — Legacy

It takes clear vision to understand who I am, where I am as opposed to where I am called to be. It takes the same to know our destination. Vision keeps us safe from distractions. It informs process—how I get to my eventual destination and timing. The importance of clarity of vision cannot be overstated.

Next week, we will look at the second principle for fulfilling your vision, that is, knowing your potential for fulfilling vision.