This week’s Pearl of Leadership Wisdom is on Vision.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” – Proverbs.

Some people really struggle with goals. They don’t have any. This is not because they are worthless, feckless individuals. It’s much worse than that. They are not guided by a vision.

I can see clearly now…

A vision inspires. A vision spawns goals. Goals with built-in motivation. And goal achievement is the definition of success. But a vision requires a leader. And leaders have vision. So we should be able to judge how many leaders there are by how many good visions we see…

Hen’s teeth…

Frankly a good vision is hard to find; there are precious few of them around.

So how do you know when you have one?

• A great vision gives a worthwhile purpose to the organisation. Over the long term. It’s your destiny.
• A great vision becomes the DNA of the organisation. All systems aligned in the execution of the vision.
• A great vision inspires. Inspiration is motivation’s sexier sibling. We are helpless in its grip. It’ll keep you up all night.
• A great vision challenges – no time for comfort zones here. A great vision should be a bit scary; a bit “can we really do that?”
• A great vision should be beautiful. And beauty cannot be hidden.
• A great vision is moral – absolutely. Global domination by force is a vision – a bad one. And you can be assured that others, with a superior, moral vision, will defeat the bad vision. We’ve done it before. And we’ll do it again.

I am blessed…

Vision is the first stage in goal setting. And goal achievement is the definition of success. So if you have a vision that ticks all the boxes above – lucky you. You’re living in a blessed world, where everything is just, well…better.

Eyes front…

If you are not so blessed, why not try to develop a great vision – this is leadership. It might be the most important thing you can do today. It might be the most important thing you can do, any day.

Mark