Proverbs 29:18 is often quoted when vision is brought up in churches, so why would I not mention it here.  “Where there is no vision the people perish.”  Vision is not merely sight, nor is vision is being able to see more than most of the people around you.  Real vision is being able to help the people around you see what you see and understand how they are going to get there. Real vision is application of what you know to what you see.

The word used here is also translated revelation in some version of the English text.  So I would contend that any true vision of where you or your organization are going must be a revelation from God.  When this type of vision is grounded in a group that is truly seeking to do what God wants them to do, the resistance level will go down, and the determination level will go up.  Don’t misunderstand that, the calling may not be easy, but the internal resistance will go down.

Set The Stage

When you are trying to help those you are leading see what you see, you need to set the stage.  By setting the stage I mean you and your leadership team need to tell them what you feel the vision is.  This is done in smaller settings first. Talk to a few or even one at a time.  Get their vision first.  Once you understand what the person you are talking to thinks the vision should be,  lay the two visions on top of each other and help them see where their vision ties in with the vision of the leadership.

This is the longest stage and where most visions fail.  If you can not help the majority of people see where their vision fits with the larger vision you not going to be able complete the vision. This could take six months or longer. During this time you must keep your leaders focused and moving toward the goal.

Cast the Vision

When you stand up in front of the crowd and say this is what we are going to do and most say, “We see it.”  Don’t mistake this for a my way or the highway kind of speech.  You will need to continue to lead the people into the scene you showed each one of them.  When they can see where they fit in the process you will truly be leading them with vision.

Continue To Play The Movie

You must continue to show each person involved how they still fit in the picture.  When new people arrive they need to be shown the film as well and see what character they are in it.  You can not do this enough times.  When you think the people are sick of hearing it, they have only begun to catch the vision themselves.

Not everyone will buy into the vision.

There are people that you have in your organization that will fight you and push you and try to derail your leadership.  These people have to be dealt with in some fashion.

1. If everyone is against the vision, you may have the wrong vision or the wrong time.  you need to deal with this internally and see where you need to change or restructure what you think the vision is.
2. If the majority is for the vision and a few are against it then they need to be guided personally by you or members of your team.  This may be just asking them some questions and clarifying what the vision actually is and how they fit into the vision.  If this is a strong minority you will need to talk to them as a group and listen to their concerns.  You are the leader and you need to be the person who helps this group into the fold.
3. If only a couple are against the vision then they need to be weighed.  My friend Ken Bish say to look at their sphere of influence.  Are they going to influence others into fall away from the vision.  If not then their weight is minimal and you can move on.  If they are influencers then you need to find the hang-up and either bring them on board or monitor their talk.  These people are usually all bark and no bite so use your best judgement when dealing with them.

Image Public Domain via Wikipedia

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Working through the problem of our lives or business can be draining, but also opportunity for growth. At Ford Motor Company President and CEO, Alan Mulally uses color coded folders to help everyone at the table see the problem then help to fix it.  In an interview with Steven Pearlstein of On Leadership  Mulally explains how this works.

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Thank you city of Sacramento for making this right!

A Sacramento shoe shine man, A. Gee Executive Shoe Shine, has had to move his business inside because the city only allows food and flower vendors permits to run businesses outside.  Maybe Sacramento has not heard that the economy is down and people need to work.  Maybe they don’t know that small businesses are the heart of their economy.  You be the judge. Watch the news story here.

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