One of the keys to a successful organization is also one of the riskiest things for a leader to do. This is some of the hardest advice for me to give other leaders—and, without practice and discipline—one of the hardest for me to incorporate into my leadership. Leader, if you want your organization to thrive, you have to be willing to give your vision away to those you lead. Let’s discuss vision casting.
Leaders talk a lot about the importance of sticking with a vision. We know we have to repeat a vision often. The vision is referred to for its value to an organization. Without a vision, the people perish. Right? We know all these principles. I agree with all the truths about vision.
I am actually referring to another principle though, which leaders sometimes overlook. Vision casting means best leaders allow others to own the vision besides them. Actually they encourage it.
Vision Casting
The key to incorporating this into your leadership is in surrounding yourself with people you trust enough to take your vision and implement it with their own personal touch. They get to live out their vision in cooperation with yours.
RELATED: Leading Creatives via vision casting
When we planted Grace Community Church I had a vision. It was actually a 10-year old vision. It was a specific vision to reach people far from God, but it was broad. I felt God wanted to have a church that reached people where they were, not with rules to perform for approval, but with unconditional love and grace. Through prayer and discernment, I recruited a co-pastor who shared the vision. I recruited a core team who could own the vision, as their own. The co-pastor and I recruited a worship leader who believed in the vision.
Step by step, we began to give away our vision
Taking the existing vision, which never changed, we had core members who researched and shaped our children’s ministry. Others started our greeting ministry. Still others formed the structure of our preschool.
