-Woodrow Wilson.
Vision is the key to understanding leadership. A real leader have never lost the childlike ability to dream.
The tragedy today is that we crush the ability of our children to dream by demanding they grow up to soon.
“The greatest tragedy to befall a person is to have sight but lack vision.”
-Helen Keller.
There is nothing that excites and motivates people like a vision to accomplish something special. Leadership is that unique ability to influence people to move toward goals that are beneficial and meet the group’s best interest.
Strong leadership of vision, coupled with faith in its efficacy, is a formidable combination. But confusion on leadership of the vision will result in diminished accomplishments. The vision, along with leadership, must be clear and concise.
Vision is a comprehensive sense of where you are, where you are going, how you are going to get there and what you will do when you arrive.
It’s dreaming dreams about the future. I is seeing the big picture and personally painting a part of it.
Vision is feeling challenged by the world and being compelled to make a mark on it through the force of your own ideas, personality, resources and desire.
But vision must be focused and specific. If it is too broad you will flounder and become discouraged. Set specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time bound (SMART) goals otherwise you will become discouraged and discourage others.
Vision is blazing the campfire around which people will gather. It provides light, energy, warmth and unity. But too many people stand away in the shadows and refuse to come up to the fire and be part of the vision.
Vision starts very much out of attitude. Forget the cynics and pessimists. Those who can’t see beyond the first obstacle will always be around in abundance. But people of vision are not afraid to fail.
Three Vital components of vision are:
1). Vision creates power. The enthusiasm that comes from vision results in dynamic power. This then leads to greater productivity and feelings of productivity increase your feelings of self-esteem. Enthusiasm is produced from vision and the power from enthusiasm is the energy that drives every successful idea.
2). Great vision comes from being quiet, still, learning and developing and often alone. Every leader needs to spend time in solitude, reflecting and increasing his knowledge. In a quite place will come your best ideas.
3). Never allow your vision to escape you. Just as a fire will die without fuel so too will your vision and dreams unless you keep them constantly alive. Your vision should be so much part of you that you are living it day by day.