CONVEY OR DELAY: The Leadership Test

“Write down the vision; write it clearly on clay tablets so whoever reads it can run to tell others.” Habakkuk 2:2 NCV

If you are a leader in any kind of way, this article is for you. Please read it carefully, because your success depends on it. Every leader desires a high-energy, high-performance team. Whether you’re a business owner, manager, or pastor, you should certainly want this for your organization. But how many times have you experienced the opposite?

• Do you find it hard to get your staff on one accord?
• Does it feel like pulling teeth to get your people to do right?
• Are your employees constantly complaining?
• Are they making up their own rules?
• Is there utter chaos on the days that you’re not there?
• How many people show up only because that’s what they’re paid to do?
• Are you trying to do everything yourself?

These are some prime examples of low-energy, low-performance teams. They are usually caused by a common denominator—lack of vision.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…” Proverbs 29:18

You may be saying, “But Billie, my organization already has a vision statement…” And my response to you is—A vision statement on the wall doesn’t do any good until it gets into the hearts of the people. It’s imperative that you convey the vision to your team in a way that they can embrace and realize that they are a key component to fulfilling that vision. If your team doesn’t feel they can be a part of the vision, they will be apart from the vision.

“It is not God’s method to give a vision to a group. He gives the vision to an individual who shares his vision with the group and transfers it to them. The members of the group then run with the vision because they find in it a place for their own personal visions to be fulfilled.”

~ Dr. Myles Munroe

If you fail to convey the vision, then you inevitably delay the vision. If your people don’t know where they’re going, how will they know when they arrive? Sharing the vision gives direction and this is why it’s important to schedule routine meetings to refresh people with the vision. You can also use that time to discuss any important announcements they need to know, but always point back to the vision.

Don’t use your meetings as a time to criticize or beat up your staff. Don’t make people dread coming to the meetings. Ineffective leaders always give out orders, but they never give out vision. Effective leaders, on the other hand, use meeting time to share the vision, encourage the staff, give public recognition, empower, motivate, inspire… People find purpose and go the extra mile when they feel needed and appreciated. You set the standard. If you don’t, your employees will set their own…and they’ll take shortcuts.

Including people in the vision is critical to developing a high-energy, high-performance team. In closing, the following quote from the book “Creating the High-Performance Team” by Steve Buchholz & Thomas Roth paints a perfect picture of successful teamwork at its best:

“In high-performance teams, members pull together, help each other out, recognize and complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and share a belief that they are responsible to each other.”

Your business, team, church, or organization has the potential to do just that…but it all starts with vision.

BILLIE MILLER “The Motivational Minister” is a Bible teacher, speaker, and the #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of “Life in Righteousness: The Word is Your Life” and “30 Days of Righteousness: The Word is Your Life Action Plan”. Thousands of lives have been changed through Billie’s powerful teachings. For more information please visit www.BillieMiller.com. Follow Billie on twitter (@BillieMiller7) and on facebook (BillieMillerPage).