Casting Vision vs. Creating Visional Environments

22 posted on July 22, 2010

POSTED IN: Blog Posts, Church, Church Planting

As the plans and dreams for our church plant continue to take shape, I’ve been thinking about what it means to cast compelling vision. Casting vision is something that is expected of great leaders. People follow vision and an amazing vision attracts dynamic leaders.

While I’m not negating the need to cast a compelling vision, I wonder if we’ve perhaps placed too much emphasis on getting people to follow our vision instead of finding ways to help them achieve theirs? Erwin McManus, always the wordsmith, says it much better than I could:

We need to reclaim the movement of Jesus Christ – it’s not the place where people are forced to conform and be standardized, but a place where people are seen as unique and find their originality in Jesus Christ. I think those of us who have been entrusted as followers of Jesus must not simply cast vision and call people to it. We must create visional environments where those who work with us and serve under us have their dreams and visions ignited and set free.

Erwin McManus

Creating “visional environments” is a whole lot messier than simply casting great vision. It means that we need to spend time listening to those who serve alongside and under us. It means we need to discover their buried dreams and hidden passions and find ways to cultivate them.

The strongest leaders, I believe, are the ones who can cast a vision for their team that allows everyone’s dream to grow and flourish, not just the leader’s. Regardless of your opinions about Obama, this one quote he made during his campaign sums up that kind of leadership perfectly: “I’m asking you to believe – not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington – I’m asking you to believe in yours.”

Your thoughts?

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This entry was posted on Thursday, July 22nd, 2010 at 11:31 am and is filed under Blog Posts, Church, Church Planting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

4 Comments

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July 22, 2010

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1 Jen C said:

I’ve always been a fan of Erwin, especially his thoughts like this one. One time I heard Erwin say something to the effect of, We must do what God created us to do, because it could inspire someone else to do what God created them to do.

Which I think is what you’re talking about. How do we follow our vision and passion that God birthed in us, but still allow others the room to follow their vision & passion from God?

I’m not sure how to do it yet, as I’m only learning as I go, but I fully support the idea. My only suggestion so far is to not only allow others room they need, but to create the space for them.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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July 22, 2010

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2 katie said:

could it be that the two are one in the same…a truly compelling vision is one that includes “visional environments?” seems to me more & more that the leaders we follow & respect the most are those who give us the freedom & courage to dream our own dreams while helping to carry out the vision of the team.
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July 22, 2010

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3 Brad Ruggles said:

Perhaps Katie…I don’t think though that every compelling vision necessarily allows room for other peoples dreams to grow and flourish. In many cases the compelling vision is simply the audacious idea of one individual or group that others choose to follow.

I agree though that, in my opinion, the best and most compelling visions are the ones that include visional environments. These types of visions attract the best leaders and grow the healthiest organizations.
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July 26, 2010

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4 shayne said:

Re-surfacing from the depths of the lurkers and other silent readers to say that I really needed to read this today. This is my heart…to see the entire congregation realize the fullest potential of their creativity in Christ. I’m stealing this quote. Thanks for sharing.