I learned something new after 28 years of ministry…

This past week I had a great coaching appointment where we were discussing the task of casting vision as a leader. As a veteran pastor I thought I really have nailed this piece and had a grasp of all of its implications. Vision drives ministry. If you are like me, you could come up with 100 ways to cast vision. We’ve done it before. My thoughts went immediately to verbal communication in a large group setting (for me this is conference and pulpit supply). I also think of print communication such as newsletters and the website.

My coach asked me to write down every way I am casting vision and then to send it to him. When we went over it, I was pretty confident that he would be impressed with my understanding and implementation. After complimenting me, my coach asked me a penetrating question, “Do the people you lead know your heart?” Good question… He went on to share with me that he felt the best vision casting is done by osmosis. It is not so much the goals that are set, but what is in the heart that draws people together to accomplish the dream.

I am wrestling with that key question, “Do people know my heart?” Do people know what I am most passionate about? Helping people to see your heart takes a different approach than crafting a vision statement or drawing up “big hairy audacious goals.” Perhaps it will help you in your vision casting to ask this question as well.