VISION What is it? How is it developed?
Have you ever worked for a Where was it? visionary leader? 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 hope Vision gives direction Vision gives individuals a sense of their part in the big picture Vision encourages us to think beyond today Vision sets priorities for daily activities
Vision Personal Vision Flows from understanding personal mission Is grounded in beliefs Is grounded in an understanding of personal gifts and talents Is fueled by personal passion Organizational Vision Flows from organizational mission Is grounded in beliefs Is grounded in understanding strengths and weaknesses of organization Is fueled by energy from leaders
Visionary Leadership A balanced expression of Spiritual Mental Emotional Physical dimensions
Visionary Leadership is It involves greatness Transformative It penetrates the ordinary It reaches through time to bring out the best It anticipates events It influences the future It enables people to flourish It perceives growth opportunities before they happen
It requires: Committed to core values (which result from spiritual values) Clear inspirational vision Respectful empowering relationships Innovative courageous action
Commitment to values: Embody a sense of personal integrity Radiate a sense of energy, vitality and will They stand for something Are more self-aware and reflective Follow an inner sense of direction Lead from the inside out Exercise moral leadership
Examples of visionary leaders with a commitment to core values: Jesus Moses Mahatma Gandhi Mary Robinson former President of Ireland Marion Wright Edelman founder Children s Defense Fund
Clear, Inspirational Vision A positive picture of the future Clear sense if direction on how to get there Communicate the vision regularly Embody the vision in their own lives Transmit 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 meaning Draw on ageless wisdom and present a new synthesis of old ideas
Examples of inspirational vision: Sojourner Truth free the slaves Martin Luther King I have a dream Billy Graham Nelson Mandela
Respectful, Empowering Relationships Good relationships are the foundation for visionary leadership Are deeply caring about people Know how to listen and learn from others Promote a partnership approach Create a shared sense of vision and meaning Develop team spirit Responsive to the real needs of people Develop participative strategies to include people
Innovative, Courageous Action Transform old mental maps to outside the box thinking Balance of right brain and left brain thinking See the big picture Create innovative strategies for actualizing vision
Innovative, Courageous Action Continued Anticipate change and are proactive rather than reactive to events Focus on opportunities, not on problems Emphasize win/win
To be a visionary leader we must: Be willing to take initiative Stand for something we believe in passionately Be ready to take the heat Pray for wisdom
Visionary Leadership Requires: Total involvement Tremendous work Willingness to put everything on the line Continuous engagement
What is the reward for visionary leadership? Making a genuine and substantive contribution to humanity Knowing you have done your best Believing you have left the world a better place Heaven with more people there because of the way you lived your life
Qualities Needed for Visionary Leadership: Imagination and creativity Engagement Tangible results Penetrating self reflection A dynamic relationship with God
How leadership models define vision: Covey Begin with the end in mind (2) Servant Leadership - Conceptualization, Foresight Transformational Leadership Inspirational Motivation Good to Great Hedgehog Concept Primal 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 meaning Areas of skill know thyself Areas of knowledge enjoy the topic