“Where there is no vision, the people perish. But happy is he who keeps the law” – Proverbs 29:18

The third dysfunction of a team is the lack of commitment. All relationships will eventually fail without commitment, and this applies to teams as well. When there is ambiguity in the vision of the team, people will lack the sense of direction and purpose. People simply cannot commit without a clear vision from the leader. Therefore, it is so critical for the leader to communicate the vision with his team members as clearly as possible. The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.” (1 Cor 9:26) It is the role of a leader to bring clarity not confusion.

Normally only the leader who received his vision from God is the first person to believe in it. He then needs to get others to believe it through the art of communication. It is essential to get your team on board through discussion and healthy debates. You can get discouraged when some of your team members do not believe in your vision, but you need to thank God for using them to check if the vision is truly from God. Always remember the principal Paul wrote in 1 Th 5:19-21, “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

You will find most team members are generally reasonable and can rally around a vision that wasn’t their own as long as they know they have had a chance to weigh in. To get them on board, you must let them share their opinions and feel like they have been listened to. It is as simple as this; you do not have a team until someone bought into your vision.

Let’s pray.

Lord, please help me to communicate the vision from you clearly to my team members so that the team can be committed to one common vision. Amen.

Before we go, take a look at the questions below:

1. Why is it said that "where there is no vision, the people perish"? In your opinion, what role does vision play in a team or organization?

2. How do you distinguish between a genuine vision from God and a "dream" purely based on human desires or motives?

3. Apostle Paul said, "So I run with purpose in every step..." What insights does this statement give you in determining the direction and goals of your life?