In this section we want to look at the role of leadership in the transformation process and give resources as well as opportunity to develop leadership skills.
Visionary Leadership – change and vision
In order to develop a vision for the future one first needs to know about change and believe that change is actually possible and desired. One needs to believe for change to see the impossible happen, go where no one has gone before, that’s the leadership required today in Africa. Can we actually envisage transformation happening? We need to begin to learn to think outside the box, move into new territory. We need to rethink issues.
‘If you keep thinking what you always thought you will keep getting what you always got’ said Henry Ford. We need to think in new ways otherwise what comes will not change, be different or improve quality of life.
There is a need to break out and begin seeing the potential and perceive what appears impossible and believe it can be achieved. To go beyond our present paradigms or perceived boundaries and understand what visionary leadership really is.
Edmund Hillary was asked, ‘why climb the tallest mountain in the world?’ His response, ‘because its there!’ He climbed Mt Everest in 1953. What mountain do we want to climb?
Visionary leadership is seeing things that other do not, seeing potential and possibilities.
* Potential is everything you can be, but have not yet become. This is true personally but also for nations and continents. We can stay in our comfort zone, be stretched or even move to take risks? But we must start with what we have and who we are. Move from comfort to stretch to risk or you will stay in your comfort zone and see no change, just be comfortable. In Proverbs 4:4 it says, that when there are no cows in the barn there is no manure to clean up. Seeing change happen could be messy!
Think of what God asked Moses, ‘what is that in your hand’ or Elisha asked the woman, ‘what do you have in your home’ or Jesus to the disciples ‘what is in your basket’? We start with what we have and use it. Transformation comes only as leaders are personally transformed and then set the example and pace. To the degree that we see transformation in our own personal lives to that level will we see it in our communities. And in our communities it starts in our families and churches. This is the great African tragedy, that this has not happened.
Change & Transformation:
Change begins with vision – seeing what can be not what is. Leadership is about being visionary, seeing beyond what others see. Poor leadership often because we are following the map of others, we actually need our own compass to know where to go. Need to read road signs.
Proverbs 29:18 says, where there is no vision the people perish. We all need a vision, seeing the future with hope.
Habakkuk 2:2-4 says, write down the vision, make it clear, so others can run with you. *A vision not written down means you are only dreaming.
Remember that if you share vision without having a commitment to seeing it happen you will lose your integrity. Many start things but never follow through. If you are a visionary be sure you have implementers at your side. If you don’t make it happen it will be harder next time and others wont go with you.
Transformational leadership is about leading from the inner world to the outer world. This is how real, permanent change and transformation takes place. That’s the developmental bias of leadership, always looking to grow, see values walked out and the leader changing to bring change. Not just outside by rules, but inside by real motivational change.
A warning though, ‘If the speed of change on the outside exceeds the speed of change on the inside, the end is near‘. Elite Sport. True in society as well today.
Leaders have to do with change and transition because things are always developing and moving. Change first starts with the way we think, in our minds. Being continually transformed by renewed thinking, Romans 12:2 Also taking our thoughts captive, controlling them, 2 Cor 10:4, and closing the door to what should not come in.
However, leaders can often resist change and find it difficult to implement new ideas and vision. They wants things to stay as they are so intentional action must be taken a hold of. Insecure leaders who do not see the need or want change, will often look for and grasp any or all of the following; power, position, possessions and passions. Be aware and resist this otherwise all change will be dampened and non effective.
Leaders actually are influencers and change agents desiring to see transformation so the need is to be flexible, open and ready to change. As the leader you may not always be right, admit it when needed and look for new ways, change. As a leader where are you looking to anticipate change? Look at and start with your agenda, what is filling it, priorities or other? Need to be courageous enough to say, No! or Stop! Self leadership is key, that is lead yourself first. An example is to make your bed in the morning, start the day doing something key.
Attitudes to Change:
Lets look at some basic attitudes towards change and discern where we fit in our attitude.
- Traditional – go back to good old days, things are fine, no change needed
- Conservative – suspicious of change, threatened by, most things ok, adjustment ok,
- Conservative/Progressive – all change not good but do need some, balance
- Progressive – change is ok but prefers no risk, most things actually need changing
- Radical – all change great, needed, nothing is good except change.
The key conditions that allow change to take place are the following:
- Its during or out of an experience or problem or crisis.
- Its often or usually during transition, move, physical change or relational changes.
- Most change happens with interaction with others in social contact, asking questions.
- It happens when there is time and opportunity for reflection.
‘You cannot just wish for change, you have to fight for it.’ Michelle Obama.
Some truths about why do we not change?
- Some people change enough to get away from problems but not enough to solve them.
- Most people want to change their circumstances to improve their lives instead of changing their lives to improve circumstances.
- Most leaders do the same thing the same way but expect different results.
- Most people are willing to change because they feel the heat, but not see the light.
- Most leaders are not willing to pay the immediate price of change and therefore do not pay the ultimate price of change.
- Most leaders see change as a hurtful thing that must be done, instead of a helpful thing that should be done.
Change is easier when:
– Information is available and the process understood
– People have participated in the decision making process
– People realise it’s worth the change, its meaningful
– People see other changing too
– The environment is free from threat and judgement with dignity and respect present
– People trust the motives of the change agent
– Making a public commitment is going to help maintain it
– When it is not imposed on them
– When it’s evolutionary rather than revolutionary in nature
– When events are recognised and consistent with reality
Visionary leadership definition:
The ability to see beyond our common/present reality to create what doesn’t already exist by living out of imagination not memory. Thought/idea/dreams take a journey to vision.
The process of change is to move from imagination to implementation.
Visionary leadership is to have an image or picture of the preferred future. What do you see? Egs: do you see a seed or tree; jigsaw pieces or whole puzzle, Michael Angelo shaping what he saw, Dan Carter a famous sportsman at 5yrs saw himself winning the world cup, or a cleaner at NASA when asked why she was there, her response, to put a man on moon.
Do you see a new Africa? What does it look like? How can you work towards that?
Many see the future the same as the present or worse. Vision/dream is what makes the difference e.g. Reformers, Mandela, Booth, Carey. Our gospel/eschatology has not helped in having future visions as its all getting bad and Jesus will come back to take us.
Future is not what lies ahead of you but what lies within you. Its your vision that changes the future and what you see. Allow the vision we have to be used by God to bring reality about. Excuses maybe real but not necessarily valid. Respond in faith.
Nelson Mandela said:
- poor leaders talk about people and problems
- average leaders talk about projects and events
- great leaders talk about ideas and possibilities
Vision is interaction between imagination and the ability to observe, real dreams. Dreams becoming reality quicker so we must dream faster, political change. Vision produces passion and passion purpose. We need long-term passion, short term plans. Build/construct a picture of the present and then imagine what the future could become.
Steps in vision:
Excitement – God speaks, a seed, a word, a dream,
Embrace – take hold of it, begin to believe it, read about it stimulates vision,
Experimental – start small, little, try it, prepare, respond, have a go, try it out,
Examination – testing, challenge, problems, people, finances, refined in prayer,
Execute – step out, do it, make it happen,
Expansion – it takes root, others catch on, growth, new vision,
Exhaustion – get tired, takes longer than planned, doubts may come,
Evaluation – need to be looking at results, impact, fruit, is there success?
Expiration – out of date, overdue, quit, need to let some things die,
Vision is usually worked out in the midst of personal struggle and growth, sometimes chaos and confirmed by others joining in. Watch and observe this process.
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