Churches Planting Churches

Andy Stanley’s Making Vision Stick

Posted on 15. Jun, 2010 by Steve Swisher in Book Review, Leadership

I’ve been wanting to read this book for a while. I recently saw a summary of the book on Grace Compass Church Blog. You can find the original post on that link, but here’s the highlights of it:

MAKING VISION STICK by Andy Stanley

In the book, Andy shares that there are 5 things that help make vision stick:

1. STATE IT SIMPLY.

Take time to think through what exactly it is you are trying to accomplish….And state it in a way that you can say it quickly and succinctly….The memorable is portable…You need a portable vision….It doesn’t have to be cool or rhyme….Be aware of the “Curse of Knowledge” – you know so much of what you’re doing you assume everyone else knows what you’re doing….Vision doesn’t stick on it’s own….People aren’t asking stupid questions – they’re just showing us how poorly we’ve communicated it….What is it that people who volunteer in your organization come together to do….One campaign – “to make poverty history.” You’ll know this vision for the rest of our lives….Doesn’t even have to be original….Not just committed to GROWTH, but committed to MULTIPLICATION….Its’ one thing to say one thing over and over who sit in front of you in rows, entirely different to communicate it through several tiers….Sometimes very powerful statements and vision statements come accidentally….As you think about what you’re trying to do, you serve yourself and others well to ask yourself, “when people show up for work or plan a service, etc….What have we come together to do?” What’s the one sentence job description associated w/ organization?

2. CAST IT CONVINCINGLY

Neh 2 – the ultimate explanation/illustration of casting vision…..the WALL has been town down for a long time….Casts vision as to WHY they need to REBUILD NOW….Did it in 50 + days with 3 components: (1)Define the problem, (2) Offer a solution, (3)Explain WHY and WHY NOW….If people don’t feel the problem they are not excited about the solution. EVER! You need to learn to craft your vision as a solution to a problem….You’ve got to understand the problem that your vision is a solution for….Most people don’t have a problem w/ Jesus, they just don’t like the church….What is the problem that our vision addresses?….To ask yourself: What must be done in the environment you find yourself in? What would go undone if your organization ceased to exist?….“Business Solutions” – Google this. Because businesses have learned to position themselves as a solution to a problem.

3. REPEAT IT REGULARLY

You have never stated it enough. Look at the rhythm of your organization….At Northpoint January is our highest attendance so we use this time for vision casting. Staff asks, “Shouldn’t we do something practical?” No….You need to discover what those are and build into the rhythm the times to cast vision. Can’t do it sporadically….When Andy casts vision, he almost always feels like he just preached the SAME THING!! But people still get moved by it! Why? Because vision doesn’t stick!

4. CELEBRATE IT CONSISTENTLY

Not only a matter of repeating it, But find ways to celebrate it….When you catch somebody living out the vision the way you anticipate, celebrate it! Show it! Say, “This is what I’m talking about!”….Stories do more to clarify more than anything….An emotion brings to life these phrases, sentences, etc…The first question asked at staff meeting is, “Where have you seen (insert your vision statement here) lived out this week?”

5. EMBRACE IT PERSONALLY

Talk about it! In your attempts to be humble or below the radar – you might be missing opportunities. Gives people permission to push the envelope in their own life.

Related posts:

1. Church in the Making (3 of 4)
2. Church in the Making (1 of 4)
3. Church in the Making (2 of 4)

Tags: Andy Stanley, Vision