Vision or Action - or both?

Can we really push a vision to our people while driving action? What - you ask... How dare you say that leaders could push a vision without some type of action to follow it up. Well - for those of you who think this post is too far out there, take a look around. How many of us sit in meetings, whether in business or ministry, and hear great visions but find ourselves six months later, or maybe 12 months later, in the same exact spot with no change whatsoever?

Now do I have your ear? I bet I do... because most of us have or are there every single day.

So - as leaders. Do me a favor. Stop casting vision with no action. Stop trying to drive change through only emotions. Cast the vision, but then live and die to the action steps that must get you there.

Vision and Action must coincide and live harmoneously together! If not, vision without actions is "dead" and actions without vision is a "waste of time".

Do both please.

Too Many Things to Do Anything

Have you ever found yourself in the following place?

"I have and am doing everything I can as the leader, or have thought of. I have this going on and that plan in action and this vision cast and yet - nothing. No change, no growth, no movement. What am I missing?"

Are you there? You know, if you have ever led anything you would probably answer yes. Many of us have been and are probably today.

It is interesting, the more I lead, the more I am finding that sometimes, and more often than not, movement/progress/growth, whatever you want to call it, happens when there are not "too many things happening" and when everyone is focused on one task, one challenge, one momentum booster, one something that INSPIRES.

I wonder if we need to step back as leaders to focus on that one thing, after FINDING that one thing that INSPIRES. Then, for much longer than we generally give it thought, drive that one thing with all we have. Longer than 4 week, or 4 months, or maybe 40 months in some cases. Change and Movement takes time.

The "Soft Side" of Leadership

How amazed I am on an ongoing basis how effective leadership can often not be measured, in action or "planning". Meaning, its quite interesting how sometimes leadership and influence happen when you least expect it.

A leader can plan for years, try forever, do everything under the sun to drive a vision and direction and see results. And then it hits. The momentum swings, people catch the vision, and badda bing badda boom... things start happening.

Now... I am not saying that lazy non-challant leaders ever experience this. Nor do I think it happens in isolation from all the hard work and previous planning over the past many months and years. I am saying that sometimes, however, when the leader steps back and simply 'bleeds' the vision through conversation, small actions, and other relational steps, that this is when movement occurs, people jump aboard, and the goal is met.

Would you agree?