THRIVE Leadership

How do you respond to vision that you did not dream up or conceive? This is familiar territory, and a common road that all support leaders and teams will walk. It is a journey that requires our attention, since it is tied closely to team success and unity.

I'm taking a break today from talking about Rebellion to bring you a thought from the legendary John Maxwell today. If most people will never serve at the top of their organization, Church, etc....then most people will also be in a place to receive and implement vision they did not generate. This is a place of sacrifice, but also a place of greatness. People who are willing to lose themselves for the good of their teams will find their lives in a new way.

John Maxwell describes the common responses to Vision:
1. Attack It – People who immediately set out against a vision.
2. Ignore It – These people may not attack the vision, but they don’t support it either.
3. Abandon It – These people leave the organization because the vision violates their deep down values. They cannot bring support, so they leave.
4. Adapt To It – These people find a way to align with the vision, although reluctantly.
5. Champion It – These people make the vision of “WE” the vision of “ME.” They realize that vision is cast by one person, but accomplished by many.
6. Add Value To It – The most positive response to a leader’s vision is to be beyond championing it and to actually add value to it. The vision moves forward because of their investment and support. It is impossible to distinguish personal and team vision for this person, because they are one in the same.
**NOTE: Not everyone gets the chance to add value to the vision. There is a prerequisite to this – and that is to Champion It first.

As you and your team set out this fall to build God's Kingdom...don't be a long ranger. Don't build in isolation. Make up your mind that your best position is the place of unity...no matter what the cost. Our teams are better when we add to the vision together.