First, what’s first: Without a vision, there’s no leadership. As simple as that.
In simple terms, a vision is a goal, a target. A vision is a picture of the future you want in your life.

What I’m talking about is not a diminished version of the vision like “focusing on the means instead of results”. I’m talking about a specific destination. For example, a vision is “a man on the moon by the end of the 1960’s”.

In his best selling book “The Fifth discipline” Peter Senge states the following about vision:

“It can truly be said that nothing happens until there is vision. But it is equally true that a vision with no underlying sense of purpose, no calling, is just a good idea - all ’sound and fury, signifying nothing’ “.

The sense of purpose is built upon the experiences and the knowledge of the group that the leader has. It is part of the relationship that leadership entails between the leader and followers.

One of the classic examples of vision is Martin Luther King Jr’s memorable speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. (August 28th, 1963). Besides the charismatic tone, the vision was so vivid and clearly stated that no one hearing couldn’t help but get it, he really moved his listeners.

A fragment of the speech, it’s so inspiring that even without hearing it, you can almost see the images Mr King’s is presenting. That my friends, it’s a vision.

Interestingly, for Kouzes & Posner in “The Leadership Challenge”, what really matters in a vision is the appeal of the message to the audience, not the eloquence. It’s totally congruent with Senge’s position. The key to make a message appealing is to understand others’ dreams, and finding common ground to build a shared dream. In essence to have a purpose.

At last, K&P state that a leader has to practice three essentials to enlist others on their vision:

• Discover and appeal to a common purpose
• Give life to a vision by communicating expressively, so that people can see themselves in it.
• Listen deeply to others

Remember, the vision is the ultimate goal, your destination. As a leader, your Job is to formulate the vision, communicate it, and finally work the way to reach it.

Be Alert, Be A Leader.