Developing the Leader Within You - Vision : Part 2

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. They are able to persuade others to follow.

This chapters of Maxwell's book discusses the power of a strong clear vision. Last time, we discusses Vision Statements. This time, we will explore the two kinds of vision ownership.


Personal Ownership Of A Vision

• The focus must be on the leader - like leader, like people.
• Followers find the leader and then the vision. Leaders find the vision and then the people.

Look Within You : What do you feel?

• "The very essence of leadership is that you have a vision. It's got to be a vision you can articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can't blow an uncertain trumpet." Theodore Hesburgh
• A person with a vision talks little but does much.
• A person with a vision finds strength from inner convictions. A person with a vision continues when problems arise.

Look Ahead of You: What is the big picture?

• Leaders are concerned with the organization's basic purpose - why it exists and what it should achieve.
  

Look Beside You: What resources are available to you?

• A vision should be greater than the person who has it. Its accomplishment must be the result of many people bringing many resources to the job.
• The experienced leader is always looking for others to make the dream come true.
• The leader continually passes on the vision to those who come around, knowing that dreams, if presented right, are contagious.

Corporate Ownership Of A Vision

• One fact is true: leaders who effectively communicate goals to their followers achieve far more than those who don't.
• Successful leaders see on three levels:
• Level 1 Perception: Seeing what is now with the eyes of reality.
• Level 2 Probability: Seeing what will be with the eyes of discernment.
• Level 3 Possibility: Seeing what can be with the eyes of vision.

Understanding What Hinders A Vision - Level 1

We see things, not as they are, but as we are.

There are ten types of people who usually hinder the vision of the organization.

1. Limited Leaders
2. Concrete Thinkers
3. Dogmatic Talkers
4. Continual Losers
5. Satisfied Sitters
6. Tradition Lovers
7. Census Takers
8. Problem Perceivers
9. Self-Seekers
10. Failure Forecasters

Setting The Proper Environment - Level 2

Knowing people and the keys to their lives will allow the leader to go to the "next picture" in Level 2. It is essential that the leader begin to influence what will be seen by the people.

Come alongside of them.

• People don't care how much you see until they see how much you care.
• People don't buy into the leader before they buy into that leader's vision.
• Remember, when you help people get what they want, they will help you get what you want. This can only be accomplished by building strong relationships with people.

Paint the picture for them.

• Every great vision has certain ingredients, and the great leader makes the people understand, appreciate, and "see" them.
• If the picture is painted clearly and shown continually, soon others will begin to see how it fits into everything they do. They will have a vision mind-set.

Put the things they love in the picture.

• People carry pictures of other people and things they love. Put what is important to the people within the frame of the vision and you will have transferred the vision to the people.

Opening Eyes To Possibilities - Level 3

On this level we need to ask ourselves how to grow people to the size of the vision. This represents the one thing the leader must continually do ... grow people to the vision once they see it.

Vision is empowering to the leader who has it.

The leader with vision believe not only that what he envisions can be done, but that it must be done.

Next time, we will look into the price tag of leadership - SELF-DISCIPLINE.

Donald G Rosenbarger
Senior Vice President
Delta Companies Inc