"Evaluating Your Vision"

EVALUATING YOUR VISION
by John C. Maxwell

Duke Ellington, the late jazz musician, composer, and renowned band leader, was once asked to provide a definition of rhythm. "If you got it," he replied, "You don't need no definition. And if you don't have it, ain't no definition gonna help."

Fortunately, vision is not quite as elusive. However, Ellington's definition can be adapted slightly to help us understand one reality regarding vision: When you have one, you know it, but when you don't have one, you aren't even sure what it will be like.

To determine whether you have a vision for your student organization that's worth pursuing, consider the following list of characteristics of a true vision:

A true vision is . . .

1. INSEPARABLE FROM THE LEADER.

A true vision will reflect the leader's most basic values and beliefs. If it does not, the leader cannot share the vision to his or her people with integrity and expect that they will share in carrying it out.

2. EMPOWERING.

The leader with vision believes not only that it can be done, but that it must be done. And that confidence will spill over to the people who will share the work of the vision. If a vision does not instill confidence, it will not inspire a following.

3. CLEAR.

A vision must be a clear picture of an organization as its leader believes it can and must be. The clarity test is whether the followers can articulate the vision to one another.

4. LONG TERM.

A vision must contain a clear destination, but one that demands development over time.

5. PEOPLE ORIENTED.

A vision be from the heart of the leader and bear the fingerprints of the people.

6. FUTURISTIC.

A vision is a mental picture of what tomorrow will look like. Visionaries develop present resources as a platform for tomorrow. They constantly draw the destination but carefully detail the journey.

How does your vision for your organization measure up? Does it incorporate each characteristic? If not, take the time to re-think your vision so that it accurately represents the best of you and your organization.