Tag: Vision

Hold the Helm

Consider a statement made by Publilius Syrus, “Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.” Perhaps we could say, “It is not difficult to have faith when life is going well.”

The challenge to faith (holding the helm) involves trusting that God is in control and engaged in life, that He looks out for your best interest even when life is not going well.

Spiritual leaders will face numerous storms, disbelief in the vision and goals often exists, jealousy that creates doubt in your motives, and gossip, slander, and malice spread discrediting you.

Hold the helm! Remain strong in the faith! Keep your eyes focused on Jesus! Continue to lead!

Bleed the Vision

As leaders cast a vision for the future, goals and plans are established. Morale reaches a pinnacle and we enjoy the anticipation and excitement that builds as we push into the depths of the work and strive to achieve our goals.

What we do the day after the goal is reached makes the greatest impact on future success.

Never forget to celebrate achievement when goals are completed. Celebrate all who contributed to the success.

But…do not lose sight of the vision. As one individual identified, leaders who “bleed the vision” are needed.

The vision extends beyond the goal and keeps everyone focused on our “Why.”

Vision and Mission

In an effort to develop a vision and mission statement, we often get the ideas reversed, and rightfully so, since they are interrelated.

The mission of an organization, specifically the church, describes “what to do.” The foundation is built on the purpose of our existence and the mission directs every decision for all related activities.

The vision describes what we desire to see as a result of the mission. The vision takes into consideration the image of the future that connects the long-term desires with achievable goals.

We must communicate both the vision and mission if we hope to achieve any level of success.

Leadership Commitment

Leaders must be committed to fulfilling the vision for the organization. We also understand the need for commitment to achieve our goals each year.

Among several possibilities, have we ever considered our level of commitment to others? Simon Sinek says, “Leadership is always a commitment to human beings.”

To separate our commitment to leadership from our relationship to people is to miss leadership completely. Without a commitment to people, without the people component in our leadership, the only remaining possibility becomes egocentric and self-driven.

Our leadership must achieve greater heights for the cause of Christ. May we always be committed to others in our leadership.

Time and Energy

When the only value people feel they provide for an organization is from a financial perspective, then the long-term structure crumbles. We all desire to know that the time and energy we contribute to growth has value, not just financially.

If we can incorporate the same into our spiritual leadership, the response is the same. Consider the benefit to the church when Christians see leaders give of their time and energy. The result is huge in raising the level of trust and the desire to achieve the vision set forth by leaders.

A Leader or Leadership?

What is the difference in leadership and being a leader?

Certain authors who write about leadership indicate 2-3% of people in the world are leaders. Another segment of authorship claims everyone has influence. Thus, we are all leaders to a degree. The exercise of our influence may determine the type of leader we are or are not.

Leadership, however, seems to indicate the use of power to direct a group of individuals toward an objective, purpose, vision, or certain goals associated with these areas.

If we make this distinction, then the number of those who possess the authority to direct is fewer. Additionally, few desire this authority.

The Middle

As the days, weeks, months, and years fly by, taking a moment somewhere in the middle to evaluate and ask a few questions seems appropriate.

What have we done to reach our goals and achieve the vision? Would our assessment indicate progress, or are adjustments needed to move forward? Should our goals be raised because we aimed too low, or lowered because we were too ambitious initially?

Midway allows us to evaluate our progress to determine how we lead into the future. From this position we have a better perspective of what the future looks like and how we can cast a greater vision for what lies ahead.

Success and Vision

Before we can experience success, we must understand what we mean by success.

The definition of success on a personal and corporate level takes on different dimensions accordingly. We also find that the definition of success often changes with the stage and development of one’s life.

If we do not know how to define success, creating a vision for the future will be met with great challenge.

When we do not know the destination, how will we ever know if we reach it? Beyond this, why would anyone be passionate about pursuing the vision?

Unless we define success, any thought of vision crumbles with mediocrity.

A Question

I first saw this question on a church building sign.

The question challenges the depth of our faith and the strength of our vision.

The question requires a deep reflection into our soul to determine where we are and where we want to go.

The question brings a responsibility to act, requiring us to get up and do something.

The question applies to every individual and congregation. It stretches across every generation, culture, and era.

Before you read the question, remember to give serious consideration to the question before answering.

The question is simply this: “What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?”

Potential…Part 3

What steps should we take to reach our potential. Here are a few suggestions:

First and foremost, do NOT limit God. Several accounts in scripture (Numbers 11:16-23; 1 Samuel 14:6-15) indicate the unlimited power of our God. He is not limited by physical space or time. We must never think that God is unable to do something because we are unwilling to do it.

Secondly, we need to start thinking “BIG.” One of the greatest hindrances to growth is we think too small. We need to expand our vision and remove the boundaries in our minds that limit us and start thinking BIG!