Vision Casting To… Yourself

If you’re a leader, you understand the importance of vision casting.  You frequently have to remind those you lead why they do what they do.  You remind them of how every task, no matter how seemingly insignificant, ties back to the vision of your church or organization.  It’s leadership 101.

You’ve likely worked hard to develop the skill of vision casting.  Great leaders are masters of this art.

But how good are you at vision casting to yourself?

I’ve been through numerous seasons in my time in ministry when I have forgotten the importance of remembering the vision myself.  I have taken for granted that I need to be reminded of the “why” behind the “whats” just as much as those I lead.

I haven’t exactly forgotten the vision.  If you asked me I would rattle it off by rote.  But while my head remembers, sometimes my heart forgets.  I can get busy doing the what of ministry and slowly find my heart disconnecting.

Have you ever been there?

As Bill Hybels has so wisely taught us, “vision leaks”… even for leaders.  As the leader, you’re less likely to have others who will consistently remind you of the why.  In fact, you’ll more commonly get pestered with questions rather than encouragement… unless you know where to look.

To keep your head and your heart connected to the vision, you have to create ways to cast the vision to yourself repeatedly.  Here are some ways that I have learned to do this:

1)    Prayer.  The demands on your leadership often make extended prayer time feel like a luxury you can’t afford.  This is the easiest way for our hearts to disconnect from the vision and purpose God has called us to.  Don’t neglect the amazing gift of spending time with God and hearing from Him.

2)    Stories.  Whether a quick testimony that was told to you on a Sunday morning or an email that someone penned to share their story of transformation, let each story be a reminder of the power of God’s vision in action.  I keep a file on my computer for emails and stories that I’ve received.  On the days where I’m struggling to find significance in my work, a quick read through a few of these stories reconnects me with the heart and the impact of the work we do.

3)    Mentors.  You need people you can go to on the dark days.  These might be other ministry leaders, co-workers or friends, but they need to be people who know how to re-inspire you with truth.  Beware: they’re likely to regurgitate your own words back to you, but that’s okay, it’s probably exactly what you need to hear.

The vision isn’t going to burn brightly every day.  Some days it will feel like a flicker, but acknowledge that and create ways to help you reignite it.  That’s what will set you apart as a leader!

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  • Dan Black October 22, 2013  

    Great post! Keeping our personal vision at the center of our thoughts and life is crucial.