By: Eric Betts
A new year always invites leaders to lift their eyes again — to remember that vision is not a luxury but a responsibility. Vision is the spark, the first light that breaks into a new season. But a leader’s vision is never meant to remain a private dream or a solitary ambition. It is the starting point of a journey that calls others forward. In a moment when communities are hungry for clarity and courage, leaders must begin the year by naming where they sense possibility, purpose, and promise emerging.
Yet vision alone is not enough. The most transformative visions become shared visions — not because leaders surrender their convictions, but because they invite others to see themselves inside the picture of what could be. Shared vision is born when people recognize their fingerprints on the future being described. It grows when commitment is cultivated, not demanded. And in a new year, when people are already reflecting on who they want to become, leaders have a unique opportunity to help communities imagine who we can become together.
This is why consultation is not about seeking permission; it is about seeking partnership. Leaders who engage others early are not weakening their vision — they are strengthening it. They understand that we are not islands, and that wisdom multiplies in community. When leaders open the door for dialogue, they allow others to refine the edges, deepen the meaning, and expand the reach of the vision. The goal is not to dilute the dream but to enrich it, so that the community feels ownership rather than mere observation.
As this new year unfolds, leaders have the chance to model a different kind of leadership — one rooted in clarity, humility, and collaboration. Vision may begin with one person, but its fulfillment requires many. When leaders invite others to help shape the path forward, they cultivate a community that is not only committed to the destination but invested in the journey. And that is how visions move from aspiration to reality: not through isolated brilliance, but through shared commitment, collective wisdom, and the courage to build the future together.
By: Eric Betts
Assistant Director, Curtis Coleman Center for Religion Leadership and Culture at Athens State University
