Vision: A Pillar of Leadership

Vision’s infinite range of influence knows no boundaries. It flows from the youngest to the oldest, from the novice to the most experienced member of the team. It infiltrates the organization with freshness of purpose and clearness of direction. The leader clothed with the clarity of vision, exposes others to the knowledge, necessity and power of vision. Then becomes an instrument in helping them understand the work of vision. The energy and the contagiousness of vision develops a persistent personality within the leader and within the organization that recognizes it and seeks after it. Vision helps every person within the organization to see that the role of leader calls their name and refers to them as the leader in their area of influence. This keen awareness awakens dreams that ignite the hearts, inspire the minds and move the people to greatness.

Questions are presented to help the leader reflect on the current state and identify important next steps that will propel the organization forward. Examples and strategies are included which the leader can employ to inspire vision within others and strengthen partnerships with them that build up the organization and help it move to its highest level of effectiveness.

Eva is a chosen daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, principal, principal coach and educational consultant. She has devoted her adult life to pursuing her vision of supporting students through her work in public education. At the age of seven, Eva knew she wanted to follow her mother’s example and become a teacher. After graduating from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois, she began her teaching career and has enjoyed more than two decades as a classroom teacher and 19 years as an elementary school principal.

Under her leadership, the school has been recognized as an ‘A School’, ‘High Performing School’ and ‘High Progress School’. She has received national and local recognition for her school leadership. Teaching has been her life’s mission. When she became a principal, every day she saw herself as a teacher and used much of what she learned as a classroom teacher in her role as a principal. At the age of seven, the vision of becoming a teacher ignited a passion within her that has inspired her through every stage of her career and continues to live and motivate her today. This book is birthed out of her personal experience with the work of vision.