Intentional Visioneering

W.A. Nance once said, “Failure can be divided into those who thought and never did and into those who did and never thought.”

This quote seems to identify two common leadership problems. The first, I would rephrase as vision without action. Every leadership endeavor should have a compelling, enduring and passionate vision of the future. If a team is to arrive at a positive, healthy, exciting destination, a shared vision must motive and inspire them. But a huge part of leadership is the transformation of the vision into reality. Ideas that stay as dreams within the head of the leader are only good for contemplation and reflection. A fabulous view of the future will only serve as a painting on the wall unless the processes of construction, reconstruction, and renovation begin to generate change. “Lights, camera, camera, camera….” will never make a good movie without the exhortation for action. So it is with any concept of vision. Strategic plans must be design and carried out. If a vision drives your mind and stimulates the ideation deep within your soul, it is worth dreaming; and it is worth sharing; and it is worth doing!

The second problem is as devastating to a vision as dreaming without doing. In my words, it is execution with impulsivity. Effective leadership transforms vision into reality, but it also demands a thorough, analytical, plan of communication, translation, inspiration, and strategy. Vision casting and dream sharing are impotent if a solid plan for wise implementation is not on the drawing board. It is much like driving a new automobile from the east bank to the west bank before the bridge is built. Not only is it foolish, but you can lose the new car to a watery grave.

W.A. Nance was born November 10, 1918 in Hager Kentucky, ordained a Methodist minister in 1941. From 1943-1946 he served as Chaplain in the U.S. Army’s 28th Infantry, attaining the rank of captain. Reverend Nance was named “Outstanding Man of the Year” in 1954 and 1956 by the International Lions Clubs of Memphis, Tennessee.