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Why Vision is More Important than Strategy

January 31, 2012 in Vision with 0 Comments

Whether you are a senior administrator or a new student in college, vision matters.  While most of our lives are lived at the strategic and tactical levels, vision matters. Even if you are pressed to complete a project or make an appointment on time, vision matters.

Vision is our compass.  Vision is our fuel.  Vision gives purpose to strategies and activity.  I appreciate Proverbs 29:18 (NASB), “Where there is no vision, the people go unrestrained.” Vision provides direction and discipline.  No doubt, the Manning brothers had a vision of winning the Super Bowl even when they were throwing the ball in the backyard with their dad.  Day after day, that vision drove them toward excellence. Today, they are both Super Bowl champions.

You want to lose weight? Why, because you have a vision of being the healthiest version of you.  You want to earn a college degree?  Why, because you have a vision for a future that will link your passion, gifting, and interest with a number of vocational options.  Or even more, you have a vision to serve others through healthcare, education, ministry, or business.  My vision for the last 25 years has been “Equipping Others for Significant Leadership.”  That vision brought me to Crown and engages my imagination every day.

Let me encourage you at the beginning of this new year to spend time thinking about your vision, values, and voice.  Vision is that picture of a preferred future.  Vision is your future direction.  Values are those things you care about most.  Voice is the unique look and feel of your leadership.

Do the hard work of clarifying your vision, values, and voice (the Why and the Who) and then move on the strategies (the How) and tactics (the What). When your hard work and daily life are aligned with the vision God has for you, there can be a new sense of energy, engagement, and effectiveness.

GLframeworks: Three Levels of Leadership

January 24, 2012 in Frameworks, Leadership, Vision with 0 Comments

There are many ways we could frame out leadership.  Here is one approach that is not only straightforward, but also powerful.  Many leaders focus on the strategic level of leadership while neglecting both the visionary and tactical levels.  By putting all three levels together, you can lead at higher levels without losing sight of the tactical details.

  • Visionary: This level includes vision: What is the picture of your preferred future.  You could also ask, “Where do you want to go?”  Second, this level includes value(s) which focus on what do you value and what value do you bring to your organization.  Lastly, there is your voice.  This is the look, feel, and style of your leadership.
  • Strategic: This level focuses on what you want to accomplish.  It begins with a clear set of outcomes and supports those outcomes with detailed strategies and resources.  Remember that we use TEMP for resources: Time, Energy, Money, and People.
  • Tactical:  This is what happens on the ground.  It includes activities (What are you going to do), time (When are you going to do something), place (Where are you going to do something).  The tactical level of exercise could be “I am going to run at the park for 20 minutes.”  This includes the activity, time, and place.

Vision: I can see clearly…

December 17, 2011 in Leadership, Vision with 0 Comments

Vision is one of the most important aspects of leadership.  Leaders need vision to bring direction, energy, and focus to the organization.  In these paragraphs, we want to focus on the broader visual aspects of clear vision.

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Vision: Different Levels

December 7, 2011 in Leadership, Vision with 0 Comments

We can talk about vision for the world or our country.  We can also talk about vision for aspects of our personal lives and professional work.  Vision segments can be large or small.

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Vision: What is 2012 looking like?

December 4, 2011 in Leadership, Vision with 0 Comments

Have you thought about 2012? I hope so. The more you think about it, the more likely you are to engage “what could be.”  If you wander into 2012, you may come up with less. Here are some things to mull over as we move toward New Years Day.

We often think of vision as something exciting and far-reaching.  It can be that, but the meaning can be multifaceted.

  • A preferred future
  • A picture of “what could be” not “what is.”
  • A unifying plan for you and your team
  • Something that will motivate you to stay on track (get healthy)
  • The whole puzzle or a segment (your life vs your finances)
  • Vision can mean to see more clearly:  See yourself, others, your situation and the world around you more clearly.

Can I encourage you to think about “what could be” in 2012?  Here are some next steps that you can take in your vision development.

  • Do you have any past vision language or thoughts that you can draw upon?
  • What can you imagine for the future beyond 2012?
  • Brainstorm with some co-workers, friends, and/or family members.
  • Take some time away from the hurry of everyday life to consider the future.
  • Write down some thoughts and then come back in a week or two and revisit them.

Research tells us that if you give more thoughts to your vision and outcomes for the year ahead, you are much more likely to move ahead.