Everyone Is Leading SomeoneSample

Fulfilling the Vision or Swamped By Projects?

Every leader must speak the words that guide their followers. Those followers cannot read their leader’s mind. Projects can be assigned; vision cannot. Vision must be communicated to be realized—it must be shared by leaders and “caught” by followers.

A leader communicates vision and then establishes the necessary projects to support that vision. Vision and projects are purposefully and dangerously intertwined, but the two must not be confused. Vision is the grand direction of God’s leading, while projects are the short-term, incremental tasks that are done to arrive at the goal.

Many people have a vision of living in a comfortable, hospitable home that is open to frequent visitors envisioned as the locale of frequent gatherings; but the pressure of perfection from media, friends and neighbors drives them to Home Depot week after week to finish unending projects.

Instead, the projects should point to the vision: Clean the house to mess it up with a party; use the china so much that you know you’ll break some; have a tremendous conversation with a loved one on the patio as spring blossoms. Play in the yard with your kids so much that there are worn spots. Gladly risk broken windows to have a neighborhood ballgame. Allow the vision to drive the projects.

A family might have the vision of raising godly, responsible children—a vision that in part could be supported by projects like giving children responsibilities around the house and attending church. Instead, our kids get soaked in media to such an extent that anything that truly builds family seems “boring” while parents shuttle their kids to and from numerous activities without a vision to drive those activities.

Take a second and count how many people you personally know play professional sports. How many people you know have helped their marriage and their life by walking with Christ? Then, why do we hustle our kids to practice instead of church? Amateur sports build character and teamwork, and they are fun, but ask why you are doing what you are doing.

As leaders, we ask God to reveal His will for those we lead, then we clearly communicate the vision to them, tying subsequent projects to that vision. As you do, followers will see and understand how the things they are doing relate to the big picture, and they will have a hand in seeing the vision come to pass.