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Are you a visionary leader? Do you have a clear, challenging picture of the future as you believe that it can and must be? Can you describe it so it stirs hope in the hearts of your people?
Here are three characteristics that every visionary leader needs to cultivate.
1. They know their leadership style.
Are you an outgoing, gregarious type or an introvert who avoids crowds? On the DISC personality inventory are you a Dominant, Influential, Steady or Compliant? Whatever type of leader you are, are you comfortable in your own skin? Do you accept yourself as you are or are you trying to copy and be someone else?
A visionary leader knows himself or herself well. They are confident in their spiritual gifts, talents and skills, and are realistic about their strengths and weaknesses. They know their purpose and calling.
Like the Apostle Paul prayed in the book of Ephesians, the “eyes of their heart” have been enlightened that they might know the hope to which they have been called (Ephesians 1:17-18). A visionary leader sees with eyes of faith and knows what God has in store for them and passionately pursues it.
2. They are a catalyst.
This means they are an agent of change who not only causes change, but also accelerates it. A catalyst sees the need for change because he or she sees the Lord leadingthat change.
A catalyst accelerates change by showing the need for change and patiently explaining the way of change by regularly casting vision, painting a picture of the future. The more a catalyst leader paints the picture of change, the quicker people get onboard with that vision.
Leadership author Brad Lomenick says, “Being a catalyst leader means you are working to identify, understand and pursue God’s unique call on your life with passion and patience. God desires for a sense of mission to burn within us, driving us forward” (The Catalyst Leader).
A visionary leader is a catalyst who has a mission, a purpose and a vision burning within them propelling them forward.
They are future-focused, always seeking the Lord and where He wants to take them next. They are dreamers of new possibilities and opportunities. They see the need for change and lead that change by casting vision.
3. They are intuitive decision-makers.
In other words, a visionary leader knows how to read people or read a situation and evaluate it without having 100 percent of the facts. They will often make a decision after only having 40 to 60 percent of the facts. They trust their gut. They have a hunch that somehow this decision just “feels right.” In the Bible, we call that discernment or “the spirit of wisdom and revelation” (Ephesians 1:17).
John Maxwell says a leader evaluates everything with a leadership bias. He has leadership eyes. A visionary leader looks at things differently than others do. “A leader sees more than others see, sees farther than others see, and sees before others do.”
A visionary leader sees around the corners and shapes the future rather than reacting to it.
Are you a visionary leader? Do you know your leadership style? Are you a catalyst? Are you an intuitive decision-maker?
Aubrey Malphurs says, “Ministry without vision is like a surgeon without a scalpel, a cowboy who has lost his horse, a carpenter with a broken hammer. To attempt to lead a ministry without a clear, well-articulated vision is to invite a stillbirth. Churches without God’s vision are destined to plateau and eventually die” (Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century).
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 | Langdon Montgomery has served as pastor in several churches over 25 years. He now serves as a hospice chaplain and resides in Hampton Roads. He has a Masters of Divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and has taught three courses at Regent in their Continuing Education and Professional Development Department focused on leadership and preaching. He coaches pastors through Ministry Leadership Coaching, Learn More » |
This isn’t just another leadership book—it’s your invitation to discover how Christ-centered questions can transform the way you lead and live. Packed with real stories and timeless wisdom, it shows you how to grow your influence, deepen your faith, and lead with the same life-changing impact Jesus did.
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