Consistency is Key

Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." This is as true in business as it is in life. Organizations whose leaders have no vision are doomed to work under the burden of mere tradition or to chase ill-conceived illusions of grandeur. They cannot prosper and grow because they are either reduced to keeping things status quo or because they have failed to realistically “count the costs” by vetting all outcomes.

Leadership entails, “holding and casting” the vision. “Holding" the vision means taking full accountability for the job of keeping the vision alive. Leaders are charged with inspiring confidence in everyone in the organization at all times. Leaders are charged with the task of “writing the vision and making it plain…” (Habakkuk 2:2). You know it is alive when people are continually excited, inspired and committed to its achievement. If they are stressed, weary, overloaded and resigned, they've lost it. It's a leader’s job to resolve whatever needs resolving to bring the people around you back into that state of excitement and inspiration - back in touch with the vision.

When a leader is consistent, they gain credibility and inspire trust. Consistency is one of the strongest traits among the world’s greatest leaders for it provides the organization, its employees, and stakeholders with a known standard. More than anything, people respect and admire consistent leaders (For Better or Worse: A Consistent Leadership Style is Key to Success-Fortune Insiders). My mother always told me that “action speaks louder than words”. Consistent leadership requires showing up each day, with a steady, team-focused attitude and open mind.

When vision is palpable to leaders, their confidence in and dedication to a vision is so strong they can devote long hours over many years to bring it into being. In this way, a vision acts as a force within, compelling a leader to action. It gives a leader purpose, and the power of the vision and the leader's devotion to it work to inspire others-- who, sensing purpose and commitment, respond.