Note: This article is excerpted from our training tool at SmallGroups.com, Develop a Group Strategy. John Maxwell once said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” While this may be a bit of an overstatement, one thing is for sure: An effective leader is necessary if anything of substance is going to be accomplished. But what drives an effective leader? What keeps a leader in the game when things get tough? What inspires a leader to give his or her life to a particular goal? The power of vision is what makes a leader great. In fact, visionless leaders aren’t leaders at all—they’re managers.
Managers supervise an efficient workforce through which the necessary work is completed in a timely and effective fashion. They make sure tasks are accomplished. Leaders, on the other hand, have the ability to obtain and retain followers by organizing, unifying and directing them to accomplish a God-given vision.
The Power of Vision
Small-group ministry is full of point people who are managers. What today’s church needs is small-group point people who are leaders, people who have a vision in mind and will organize and inspire people to join them in seeing that yet unrealized vision become a present reality. Effective leaders have a vision in their hearts that is inescapable.
