Developing the Leader Within You - Vision : Part 1

We will continue our leadership journey, learning new skills and refreshing old ones, with John C. Maxwell's book Developing the Leader Within You.

All great leaders possess two things: They know where they are going, and, They are able to persuade others to follow.

This chapter of Maxwell's book discusses the power of a strong clear vision.

Vision Statements

People do what people see.

In other words, people depend on visual stimulation for growth. Couple a vision with a leader willing to implement that dream and a movement begins. People do not follow a dream in itself. They follow the leader who has that dream and the ability to communicate it effectively.

Four Vision-Levels of People.

1. Some people never see it. (They are wanderers.)
2. Some people see it but never pursue it on their own. (They are followers.)
3. Some people see it and pursue it. (They are achievers.)
4. Some people see it and pursue it and help others see it. (They are leaders.)

You See What You Are Prepared To See.

Leaders can never take their people farther than they have traveled. Like leader, like people.

We see what we are prepared to see, not what is. Every successful leader understands this about people and ask three questions:

• What do others see?
• Why do they see it that way?
• How can I change their perception?

What You See Is What You Get.

Bobbi Biehl, in his book Increasing Your Leadership Confidence, says, "Keep in mind the difference between a winner's and a loser's mentality. Winners focus on winning big - not just how to win, but how to win big. Losers, however, don't focus on losing; they just focus on getting by!"

Keep asking yourself, "Survival, success, or significance?" are you striving to simply survive, are you dreaming about success, or are you really out to make a truly significant difference?

Next time, we will explore the two kinds of "ownership" of a vision.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc