Vision

Where there is no vision, the people perish.- Proverbs 19:18

One of the key components to being a strong leader is vision. For the sake of this post we’ll use the following working definition of vision (from a leadership context): The ability to think about or plan the future with imagination or wisdom; a mental image of what the future will or could be like. You have to know where you’re going if you want others to follow you.

Your vision will define your actions. As a leader you will have to be able to see what others can't, you will have to communicate that vision, motivate the rest of your team to get behind it, and lead the way to accomplishing the goals tied to that vision. Here's a great example of this:

A blind man riding a motorcycle? Who would ever believe that could be possible? He is blind yet has a clear vision of himself and his goals. In order to purchase the motorcycle the man has an obvious obstacle that he has to overcome. He does not allow his handicap to stand in the way of his goal. His vision defines his actions, even when others don’t buy in to it.. He can “see” what others can’t and leads them to accomplish his goal.

Ask yourself: What’s your vision for yourself? What’s your vision for your team? What are the obstacles that stand in your way? How will you get those around you to help you achieve your goals?