When I think about some of the best leaders I’ve connected with over the years there is a common thread - they motivated out of vision.  Instead of pointing at all of the things I did wrong they would point to my capabilities and potential. They seemingly looked at where I was and tried to help me be even better. That quality can be applicable to any area in your life.  

Here are a few practical steps to think about when motivating out of vision:

• Key in on gifts instead of problems - God made everyone unique and they were designed in a special way. Encourage the VISION and FUTURE of a person's POTENTIAL instead of listing the ways in which they messed up. It’s easier to lead someone forward when there is a compelling vision of the future instead of a list of problems and a reason why you should change. I want to follow vision instead of a list of problems I have to correct.
• Encourage others gifts, don’t replicate yourself - The world doesn’t need more Steve Huffman’s to do the same thing I am, in the same way I am. Rather the world needs everyone God given gifts to be activated and encouraged. Too often we try to duplicate our own gifts and instead we should fan the flames of the gifts and dreams that God implanted in others.
• Pray about vision - When you find yourself focusing on the problem of a person or situation it is a reminder to pray. Pray about a vision for how God see’s the situation or person. Make a list of the gifts and dreams for the situation or person and pray about those gifts and dreams specifically. Your prayers could provide the wind that breathes God's life into them.

So here is the question - Are you motivating out of vision? In your work are you looking at the potential of what could be instead of the lack of what isn’t?

In your work are you looking at the potential of what could be instead of the lack of what isn’t? With your children are you looking at their potential and their gifting instead of what they aren’t doing?

With your children are you looking at their potential and their gifting instead of what they aren’t doing at the moment? With your spouse are you looking at the vision of your relationship and what it could be instead of the current issue in?        

With your spouse are you looking at the vision of your relationship and what it could be instead of the current issue in front of you?

The next time you come up with a list of problems for someone to correct, practice communicating and motivation out of vision.  

Pastor Steve Huffman oversees a number of areas including leadership development, campus development, and prayer ministries. He has been at Vineyard since 2012 and joined our staff in 2015.

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