Andy Stanley - Making Visions Stick

 Although we did not happen to have a live speaker in class, nor a teacher, I was much surprised on how appealing and enjoyable listening to Andy Stanley speaking on leadership. First off I assumed it was going to be like every other video presentation on leadership, but when he began working through his points, I could see myself mentally putting them into practice, they were simple, applicable and made very much sense in the case of leadership and growth.

Stanley first approach to steps of leadership started with vision, “where the vision isn’t clear there will be no focus, and where there is no focus there will be randomness.” Stanley also asks the hard-hitting yet truthful questions such as: “If you weren’t the pastor, would you even go to your church?” following up with: “If you hesitated (in answering previous question) the vision that you came with leaked.” Good stuff.

Stanley continues with the theme: ‘Why doesn’t vision stick?” and breaks it down into three main categories on why vision doesn’t stick, because of: Success, failure and everything in between. Success can affect vision because it can lead to too many options, to which Stanley puts it: “complex organizations are stupid organizations.” Failure can obviously affect vision because so often with a failed plan, one thinks their vision is kaput, but this is not so. One needs to simply try a different route. Thirdly, ‘everything in between’ can affect one’s vision simply because of life. Life is tough on vision. “Vision is about what could be and what should be. Life is about this minute.”

Stanley continues from what hinders visions to what makes vision stick, once again broken down into three categories: Casting a vision, celebrating it and living it. In casting a vision, one needs to, as clearly as possible, define the problem that God has called you to with plans on how to go about helping/correcting it. While one travels down the path of figuring out and working towards the issue, one needs to celebrate the vision, small victory by small victory.  Celebrating the vision ‘further defines and further clarifies vision’ (Stanley). Finally, one needs to live their vision. Do not ask someone to do something you wouldn’t do.

Although my response to this short video is itself short, I have taken away much from watching and listening to Andy Stanley’s take on vision casting and fulfilling. His advice spoke to me and my hopes and plans for my future in ministry and I am sure I will be utilizing this information and this video many times more.