“Vision leaks.” And the most critical thing we as leaders can do is to share it effectively and “plug the holes” before they leak!

Andy Stanley does a tremendous job of teaching how to share the vision and stop the leaks in his new book Making Vision Stick.

In part one of this two part post I reviewed Stanley’s ideas for sharing vision effectively. (Click here to read it).

In this post I want to highlight some ideas he shares for stopping the vision leak.

Stanley gives two categories of “Vision slippage indicators” (i.e. two ways to know when your vision is leaking!)

Projects, Products, and Programs

• He writes, “Leaders must keep their antenna up for new things that have the potential to distract from the main thing.”

• We all know how this works! Everyone in the organization (particularly the church) has a good idea about what we should do! Before long we’re doing a little bit of everything… except the main thing! And consequently the main thing is not as effective as it could be! Read this next paragraph to see how Stanley addresses this…

• Stanley writes, “Our approach stands in stark contrast to a practice that many church leaders have adopted. I’ve actually heard this taught as a good approach to pastoral leadership. It goes something like this: When somebody comes to you with a ministry idea, tell ‘em, ‘That’s a great idea! Why don’t you lead it?’ This is heralded as an effective way to involve people in ministry. I think it’s a great way for a church to lose focus. Vision, not people’s random ideas, should determine programming. Vision, not a cool powerpoint presentation, should determine which initiatives are funded by your organization. Vision, not the promise of great returns, should determine which products are launched.”

• Leader, keep your eye on the new projects, programs, and products your organization is launching/beginning. You can tell a LOT about the vision stickiness from what your organization is beginning!

The second set of “vision slippage indicators” are…

Requests, Stories, and Complaints

• “Requests, complaints, and stories reveal a great deal about what’s on the minds and hearts of the people in an organization.”

• Stanley says, “Consider this: If there was 100 percent buy-in to your vision by the people you work with, what questions would they ask? What kinds of stories would they feel compelled to tell? What would get on their nerves? Begin to listen. Really listen. If the people around you aren’t asking the right questions, telling the right stories, or complaining about the right things, you vision may be slipping.”

• And one more memorable quote from Andy, “What people complain about communicates their understanding of the vision.”

This is a worthwhile read for any leader or any type of organization! It’s clear, memorable, and easy to read (74 pages).

Click here to purchase your own copy! 

In the book Making Vision Stick, Andy Stanley cuts to the chase and puts some handles on this thing called “vision.” He tells us how to share it and how to protect it. In part one of this two part post I’ll hit the high points of how to share the vision and in part two I’ll hit the high points of how to protect the vision!

This is a worthwhile, easy read (74 pages) for anyone who leads anything!

A key point:

• It is the leader’s responsibility to make sure that the vision is understood and acted on! To blame the people for “not getting it” is an abdication of leadership. Stanley writes, “If the followers don’t get it, we probably haven’t delivered the vision in a way that’s get-able.”

Five ways to make vision stick:

• State the vision simply!  This is HUGE! The next time you go into a grocery store, hospital, church, or any other organization… read their vision statement (if you can find it). Most vision statements are ridiculously long! Stanley says, “People don’t remember and embrace paragraphs. They remember and embrace sentences!” BE SIMPLE!

• Cast the vision convincingly! Stanley says that this is done in three steps:

1. Define the problem that your vision addresses. People need to know what the problem is.
2. Offer a solution to the problem! Tell them how you intend  to solve the problem. One key thing to remember is that a compelling, simple vision statement does NOT need to answer every question (e.g. who, what, how, why, when, where)! That’s what position papers, websites, etc. are for. Convincing vision statements are simple and compelling.  (Stanley points to the ONE campaign as an illustration of a simple vision)
3. Present a reason to act NOW!

• Repeat the vision regularly! “Build vision casting into the rhythm of your organization!” Schedule regular times to teach, explain, and champion the vision of your organization! Stanley says, “We all need to be reminded why we are doing what we are doing. We need to be reminded what’s at stake. We need to be reminded of the vision. And we need it more often than most leaders realize.”

• Celebrate the vision systematically! “Celebrating the wins does more to clarify the vision than anything else.” And one more Andy Stanley quote, “What’s celebrated is repeated.” Celebrate the wins in your organization!

• Embrace the vision personally! Listen to this… “Your giftedness may enable you to gather a following. But it will take more than talent to make your vision stick.” Making the vision stick requires the full buy-in of the leader!

Guys, this is a book worth picking up and reading… and reading again! If you’re leading anything click here and purchase!