This year it has been a joy for me to travel around the country conducting a three-session seminar based on my book, “Leaders Who Last.” By the end of the year, I will have been in 20 different locations.I am grateful to the Lord for these wonderful opportunities.
The sessions are:
- A Credible Life
- A Compelling Vision
- A Cohesive Team
If you would be interested in having me come to your city, email me: davekraft763@gmail.com.
In the session, A compelling Vision, we look at Habakkuk 2:2,3, “And the Lord answered me: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (ESV)
This verse is instructive for leaders in a number of ways.
- It encourages us to put the vision in writing;
- It encourages us to make it plain (easy to understand);
- It encourages us to work patiently and wait for its fulfillment;
- It reminds us that God has His time-table.
A few weeks ago when teaching the material in Memphis, Tennessee, the thought occurred to me that there is a big difference between communicating the vision andcommanding the vision.
When we are “running” with a God-given vision, it’s easy to be so excited that we are overly forceful and hurried in asking people to get on board with it rather than taking our time and communicating, with patience and understanding. We should be soliciting feedback and additional ideas on what the Lord has initially made clear to us. I believe it was Bill Hybels who referred to this as the “Sinai Syndrome.” We go up on the mountain, hear from God and then come down and authoritatively announce how it’s going to be.
It’s been my experience that followers want to contribute and have a part in formulating the details of a vision. Allowing them to weigh-in will facilitate their willingness to buy-in.
In reality, all good leadership is top-down and bottom-up. The results of this kind of leadership will always produce better results in the long term than a command- and-control style.
As a leader, when is the last time you gathered your team or group and sincerely asked for their input and opinion(s) about the vision you have? You may be surprised at how much better things go and how the morale rises among the people. You will find that when you believe in your followers and trust and appreciate their ideas, they are more likely to believe in your vision.
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