As my long-time readers know, visionary leadership is a passion of mine.
I’m often looking for great examples of leaders with true vision, who understood the critical importance of vision and who were brilliant communicators of vision, to share with my c-level clients.
Often times I meet with leaders who simply do not understand the difference between mission and vision. I have found that vivid examples are the best way to clarify the difference – the critical difference – for them.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Vivid Example
When doing some research for a project I was reminded of the brilliant vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Whilst his mission was equality for all through civil rights, his vision was eloquently stated in his, “I Have a Dream” speech given with a view of the Washington Monument, where he drew us a picture of what it would look like on that distant day when the mission was complete:
I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”
I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.
I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.
I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.
This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.
Whose Vision is It?
What’s absolutely critical for leaders to understand is this:
I can have ten CEOs in front of me and give them each the same mission, but all ten of them – because of who they are as individuals and because of their own personal vision and values – will create a vision from that mission that is unique. Possibly vastly different.
Your vision as the leader has everything to do with what your organization and your industry will look like when you complete your mission.
Do you have a dream?
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Photo is DC Cherry Blossom Festival in Infrared by Seannaber.
7 Response Comments
Definitely agree with this! Having a vision and being able to communicate it by placing a visual image of what the achievement of it looks like — one of the best capabilities of a leader. It is what differentiates a good leader from a great one!
I believe we all have dreams. Being able to visualize and communicate them is brings them to reality.
Thanks!
Thank you, Jon – I appreciate knowing how well this concept resonates. And I agree with you that being able to clearly communicate a vision is critical for a leader. Thank you so much for sharing your perspective – I sincerely appreciate it!
Great post Lisa. I’ve always thought that the vision always needs to come first. As with MLK, his Dream was what drove his mission. However not all leaders are executing their own vision. As you pointed out, you can present the same mission and have multiple, very different visions be communicated. That’s a great lesson to learn; you can bring your own vision (the why) to an existing mission (the what). The leadership challenge is in getting others to believe in your “why” as well.
Eloquently said, Joslin! And what a beautiful point that for MLK, rather than being given a mission and creating a vision for it, he started with his dream… Thanks so much for your insights – I am honored to have you here!