Vision
“Where there is no vision, the people perish”
A compelling vision offers more than hope — it offers direction. It serves as a roadmap, guiding individuals and teams toward a destination that may seem distant, but is ultimately attainable. When leaders share a bold and meaningful vision, they help people understand how their work connects to something larger than themselves. It sparks motivation, fosters alignment, and strengthens resilience in the face of challenge.
Effective vision doesn’t just point to the horizon — it lights the path forward. Leaders must help their organizations articulate the values, priorities, and shared goals that will carry them toward that imagined future. One proven approach is the “BHAG”—a Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal that stretches the imagination and forces a group to think and act beyond what feels safe or familiar.
Pat Summitt, the legendary coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, embodied this kind of visionary leadership. She embarked on her career as a college basketball coach when there was little to imagine: an unheralded team, no tradition of success, and a whole sport — women’s basketball — that was in shadow, ignored by most people. Her vision, matched by a life of dedication and hard work, transformed a team, advanced a sport, and changed the way women’s athletics were seen and supported. She didn’t do it just with strategy or tactical brilliance or recruiting skill — she built a team and a legacy with a vision that never ceased.
Vision is the spark that ignites progress. It is the leader’s most powerful invitation: let us join together and build what does not yet exist.