“These people are Driving. Me. Crazy.”

I collapsed onto the couch and buried my face in a decorative pillow. I considered screaming at the top of my lungs but settled on voicing my lament to God instead.

“Why is it so hard to get my employees to not only catch my vision but also stick to it? If I have to repeat myself one more time, someone will probably get hurt.”

I sat in the silence for a moment, letting my anger simmer, half expecting God to back me up.

If anybody understands the frustration of followers who tend to wander from the proposed mission, it is God.

I waited in the silence for His consolation.

He met me with a challenge instead.

“What if you are not communicating as clearly as you think you are? What if your employees have not caught the vision because you are not using the right words to tell them about it?”

If you are an entrepreneur, a business owner, or a leader of any kind, you know what it is like to struggle in the space between the vision in your heart and the reality in front of you.

When the path seems clear to us, we are at a loss as to why other people have trouble getting or staying on board.

It is easy to blame other people’s lack of creativity, but the truth is, the real problem may be with our lack of clarity surrounding the vision we are trying to bring into existence.

When God gives us a vision and plants a dream in our hearts, it is hard to believe that other people might not share our excitement. But, if we want to recruit the right help, whether they are volunteers, employees, or co-laborers, we need to make sure our vision and our mission is communicated clearly so that others can understand it, and run with it too.

 

When communicating a vision, it is helpful to use the Lord’s reply to Habakkuk as a guide:

“Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.” Habakkuk 2:2 ESV

Write the vision

Science has proven the benefits of writing things down, and the vision in your heart is no exception. If you want to see something happen, you need to write it down.

The initial draft does not have to be perfect. It can be a list of bullet points on the back of an envelope. A few sentences scrawled on a page in your journal. A typo-filled paragraph saved in an app on your phone.

Finding the perfect words is not the point, getting the idea out of your mind is. Sometimes God reveals a vision over time, in little snapshots and snippets. If you want to piece the whole vision together when the time comes to do so, you need to have a paper trail.

Writing down the dreams and visions that God gives you allows you to refer back to the things He has shown you and to connect the dots you may not have noticed before.

When you are trying to discern the best path to take, a written record you can refer back to helps the process.

Make the vision plain

Once the vision is written down, you can start the work of making it plain. This is the refining process where you focus on finding the right words to make the intangible vision in your heart more real.

In the refining process, you get rid of any confusion you might have surrounding the vision, and focus on finding clarity. If you are clear on where you are headed with your vision, you can help others see clearly too.

If you are struggling to find the words to communicate your vision, remember that “God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:33 ESV) No one understands clarity like God. If He gave you the vision, He will give you the right words to communicate it.

Know that this process will take time. Commit your vision to prayer. Talk it through with leaders and friends you trust. The more you talk about the vision, the more you will discover the key words and phrases you need to use to communicate the vision with clarity.

Let others read it

When you have got your vision clarified, it is time to share the vision with others.

We were not made to accomplish things alone. No matter how big or small your vision is, you can be sure God does not intend for you to accomplish that vision by yourself. We were created for community; to work together to see God’s kingdom realized here on earth. Your vision may be the assignment someone has been waiting for. But others cannot join if they do not know you need help.

If you have written your vision and gained clarity about how to communicate it, it is time to share it with others.

Run with it

When your vision is written down, clearly communicated, and shared with others, it is time to start running. Without the obstacle of confusion in your way, your path will be clear, and you (and the people you are leading) can move forward with greater momentum.