From Management to Leadership: Strategies for Transforming Health, 3rd Edition

Vision

The third step for building normative commitment among followers is through development of a shared vision. In recent years, vision has become a byword in management and leadership circles. Everywhere managers and leaders are exhorted to have a vision. We see example after example of governments, organizations, and people for whom vision made a difference. And all are impressive. Joel Barker in The Power of Vision (1990) raises the question: Does vision come first, or does the success of an individual, organization, or government lead to a vision? In each instance he examined, the vision came first, leading him to conclude that “vision has the power to change our lives.”

All leaders understand vision because of its presence in their lives. ...