Dave Clark.com

I just finished reading “Making Vision Stick” by Andy Stanley. I have read it before, but am giving it a re-read for some upcoming meetings. It’s a great book and a must read for anyone in church leadership. It’s a quick read too. You should be able to cruise through it in about an hour.

Here are some of my notes from reading.
- It is the leaders responsibility to make sure that people understand and embrace the vision.

- 5 ways to increase the stickiness of your vision

1. State the vision simply
-When people complain about what you do and don’t do. Simply state your vision.
-Get a vision statement that can be remembered and repeated
-Don’t over complicate it. If its too complicated it won’t stick. People/church will just keep doing what we’ve always done

2. Cast the vision convincingly
-State the Problem
-Every vision is a solution to a problem
-Explain what is at stake, What will happen if the problem isn’t addressed?
-Offer a solution
-Present a reason

3. Repeat the vision regularly
-Twice a year from the platform
-within the rhythm of your organization
-What other available forms of communication can you use?

4. Celebrate the vision systematically
-Celebrating a win incarnates the vision
-If vision doesn’t align with celebrations, then what’s celebrated will overpower the vision and determine the course of the organization
-What’s celebrated is repeated (for better or worse)
-If you intentionally or unintentionally celebrate something that conflicts with your vision, your vision won’t stick.

5. Embrace the vision personally
-More than just a job… a calling
-If you believe in something you live it out (mac users =)
-leaders loose sight over time of original vision
-If your not feeling like living out the vision (discouraged), don’t fake it. Admit it to safe people with your organization.

Vision slippage indicatiors
- New Projects, Products and Programs

• If there are new ones they must be vision-centric
• “Think steps, not programs.”
• If it provides a step… consider it. If not nix it.
• This is where most churches loose focus
• Vision, and not peoples random ideas should determine programming

- Requests, Stories and Complaints

• Some tell if people have the vision and tell if your doing your job
• Listen to staff wins to see if they are relevant to the vision
• If there are no wins being shared you have a problem
• If the only prayer requests are for the sick and none for the lost, then your vision is slipping

Live out the vision that God has given you for your organization and pray that he gives you the strength stick to it even when times are tough.