Because God made us all in His own image, we all are leaders. Jesus
lived and taught Servant Leadership. This is not an option for the
Disciple of Jesus, it is the only option. Our service, good example
and deliberate goals for empowering others, are potent tools for
positive influence.
**************************************
Week 3. Vision and Goal setting
**************************************
Objective: Participants will be able to define their vision and goals
for the next two years. They will understand the importance of goal
setting, identify roadblocks and commit to a culture of regularly
establishing smart goals.
Key Words: Vision, Goals, SMART
Biblical example: Nehemiah, Paul
Contemporary examples: Peter J. Daniels, Martin Luther King Jr., Billy
Graham, Amundsen and Scott (conquering the Southern pole).
We need to be interested in the future. That is where we are going to
spend the rest of our lives! Anthony D'Souza ~ Developing the leader
within you.
Key Verses:
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the
law, happy is he. Proverbs 29:18 AKJV
And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it
plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. Habakuk 2:2 KJV
A Servant Leader operates with a clear vision for him/herself and the
people he/she leads. What is vision? Is this the same as goals?
Definitions:
Seeing what others do not see (Daniel Shu).
Unusual competence in discernment or perception, intelligent foresight
(Dictionary.com).
My definition of Vision is the ability not only to have a mental image
of a desirable future (ideas), but also the ability to clearly define
this in a way that inspires commitment and challenges into action for
it's realization.
Having good ideas is NOT equal to having a vision.
Examples of vision
Bill gates had the vision of placing a PC in every home back in the
days when IBM machines cost between $2,000-1,500 per PC. Today, PCs
sell for as low as $200 (25 years later).
Martin Luther King: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the most
astonishing men of the 20th century. He was one of the most respected
leaders of the Civil Rights Movement who sacrificed his life for the
vision of equal rights for all races.
What is your vision?
_______________________________________________________________________
While a vision states the desirable end, goals define the steps to be
taken intended to guide action toward the Vision.
We can therefore describe a vision as a clear picture of what the
leader sees his group being or doing. The bible makes it plain that
without vision man (or nation, church, family), is bound to fail.
No Vision >no goals > no direction > no destination > Failure!
Vision spurs you into action, gives you a direction and assures a
future, a legacy and an expected end.
Christian Leader Sundar Singh Sangma has this to say about goals;
"Goal setting is not merely a technique to achieve an objective but a
concept deeply rooted in the word of God "
Why set goals? Leadership develops daily, not in a Day. Your daily
routine indicates the direction you are taking. Do you kill or redeem
time? Servant Leaders also understand that activity is not necessarily
accomplishment. Yes, you may be busy, but how is this helping you
achieve the vision God has given you?
• 1. Goals give direction in life.
• 2. Goals promote enthusiasm.
• 3. Goals make you results oriented.
NO Goal > No Direction
No Direction > No destination
No Destination > Total failure
If you fail to plan, you're busy planning to fail. Ps 37:5 Commit thy
way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Goals can be:
a) Long Term - To build a Christian school within 15 years that will
help train the next generation of leaders in my country.
b) Medium term – Reach at least 50% of your colleagues with the Gospel
in the next 4 years and ensure at least 20% abide.
c) Short term – Save at least 100 dollars towards kids fees every month.
John Edmund Haggai on goal setting has this encouragement for
believers; "Attempt something that is so big, it is bound to fail if
God is not in it!"
SOME REFERENCES
- 1 Cor 9v24 Teaches us to discipline ourselves and say no to distractions.
- Jer 29v11 We should seek to discover God's plans for our life. Goal
setting is therefore a statement of faith.
Practical exercise:
1. Write down a list of your desires. Things you'd like to accomplish
in the next 2 years.
2. Write S next to Spiritual Goals, P= physical goals, So= Social
goals, F= Family goals, Fi = Financial, P= Personal Development and
Fa- Family.
3. Count and tabulate your results.
4. Draw 7 concentric circles, starting with a small one in the middle..
5. Mark the points on the different circles.
To live a balanced life, you need to set balanced goals in all sectors
of your life.
Let's fix them:
Your goal statements should have the following format;
a. Start with the infinitive;
• To lead...
• To own...
• To write...
• To Preach etc.
Your goal statements should have the following "SMART" format;
b. State clearly what you want to Achieve.
c. Be as Specific as possible i.e. to improve performance is not a
goal. State to what degree to make it Measurable.
d. Make it Realistic but Challenging!
e. Set the date (Time).
f. Write the goals (Habakkuk 2:2). Writing it down inspires
commitment. God's glory should be our ultimate focus.
Goals help a leader to prioritize, act at the right time and maintain
motivation in life. When to Lead Is as Important As What to Do and
Where to Go. Anyone Can Steer the Ship, but it Takes a Leader to Chart
the Course.
Some Goal Killing Habits
*Laziness - Prov 6:6
*Leave it at the level of a good idea - Commit, share and get
commitment (buy-in).
*Do not invest time and prayer in it Prov 3:5-6
*Do not write it down. Hab 2:2. Use a planner/ Diary if possible.
*Do not assign priorities, the 3M (Men- who, Money-how, Minutes -what)
and a time scale for accomplishment. Be Practical. Who (Men) is doing
What(Minutes) and How (Money)?
*Imposed goals
*Set goals every year and then quickly forget about them.
Phil 3:14 "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus." (RSV)
Gal 6:9 "And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we
shall reap if we do not grow weary."
It can either be No Vision, No goals, No direction, No direction, No
destination that is Failure!
OR
Know Vision, Know goals, Know direction, Know direction, Know
destination, that is Success!
Assignment: Prayerfully review your vision and establish goals using
this format.
My life mission is:
My monthly Christ-centered goals sheet:
*SET TWO SPIRITUAL GOALS
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ" (II Peter 3:18).
1.
2.
Due Date: Actual Completion date:
*SET TWO PHYSICAL GOALS
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you
present your bodies a living sacrifice...which is your reasonable
service" (Romans 12:1).
1.
2.
Due Date: Actual Completion date:
*SET TWO SOCIAL GOALS
"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor
giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:10)
1.
2.
Due Date: Actual Completion date:
*SET TWO FAMILY GOALS
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For
with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)
1.
2.
Due Date: Actual Completion date:
SET TWO FINANCIAL GOALS
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For
with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)
1.
2.
Due Date: Actual Completion date:
SET TWO PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For
with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)
1.
2.
Due Date: Actual Completion date:
SET TWO STEWARDSHIP GOALS
"Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down,
shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For
with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38)
1.
2.
Due Date: Actual Completion date:
