During recent conversations with leaders, along with internal conversations here at Converge Coaching, we’re sensing the dark cloud that’s hung over churches during the pandemic may be dissipating.

Many challenges have confronted pastors during this two-year stretch, but I think they could be summarized by this: for many leaders, no matter what they did or didn’t do, said or didn’t say, there was a significant number of people in their church who were upset with them. These pastors had a vision during the pandemic . . . survival. Casting long-term vision was difficult due to the ever-changing landscape of lockdowns, quarantines, etc.

While we’re making no predictions today, we’re feeling a fresh sense that it’s time for leaders to get back to vision . . . to strategy . . . to team-building.  Today’s post focuses on vision.

You may be wondering, “Why vision? What is vision? Why does it matter?” Some leaders ask, “Can’t I just show up and preach every Sunday, and that’s good enough?” Well, we believe leading includes a bit more than merely giving a good talk on the weekend. Here are a few ideas to stimulate your thinking when it comes to vision development and vision-casting:

Vision gives a clear picture of organizational destination

Vision answers the question, “where?” Where are we going as a church? As a business? Vision is a clear, compelling, mouthwatering picture of the end zone (for those of you who love football like I do). It’s the dreaming part of a leader’s responsibility. If you’re not dreaming about the future of the team or organization you lead, you’re missing out on a significant part of being a leader.

Vision helps your organization get aligned. Michael Hyatt points out that you can’t get alignment without something to align to. Vision is that “something.” It is an organization’s north star.

Vision helps you simplify

Karl Vaters was a guest on our Leading From Alignment Podcast a few weeks ago, and he made this statement: “Most small churches are too complicated.” I would add that most churches, regardless of size, are too complicated. A clear destination tells us where to put our resources of time, people, and money. It gives us direction in terms of hiring and firing. It informs us regarding which programs we’ll start and which ones we’ll stop. In a world with too many choices, vision uncomplicates things.

Vision creates energy and momentum

More than a few pastors have complained to me that the church they lead doesn’t have enough people stepping up to serve. My response often is, “Tell me about your vision for the church.” If they answer vaguely, it’s not hard to figure out why they have a “people-serving” problem. A compelling vision is a magnet that draws people to join the team. To roll up their sleeves and work. Most people want to be part of something larger than themselves.

Let me quote Michael Hyatt again: “When we lead with vision, we’re doing something that makes people move from renters to owners.” Vision increases buy-in. And it often filters out those who don’t buy in.

Let me give you one final thought today: Vision matters. The church or business you lead needs you to strengthen your vision-casting muscles again. To paint a compelling picture of an achievable future. You may be wondering, “How far out we should be looking?” That’s a great question. Right now, I think we’re back to being able to look ahead a couple of years.

If you find yourself not knowing where to start with vision development and/or casting, we’re here to serve you.

Let me close with a quote from Andy Stanley that gives us one more reason to accept the vision challenge: “Everyone ends up somewhere in life. A few people end up somewhere on purpose. Those are the ones with vision.”

Rooting and praying for you to start dreaming again,

John