Corrections_Today_July_August_2020_Vol.82_No.4

Communications & Publications

At this time, when many are struggling with the crisis of COVID-19, many would ask why even think about vision when we are just trying to get through the day. I might suggest this is the time to think about vision. COVID-19 has changed how we do business in corrections and with few exceptions no one has been impacted more than prisons. I would also suggest if we do not learn from the lessons taught and develop a changed vision to incorporate these lessons, we are subject to make the same mistakes. When asked what makes the difference in determining direction, I always say, leadership. In fact, I would submit, the difference between leadership and management is largely that vision thing. Hyatt says vision is the essential ingredient for successful leadership. As Jack Welch once said, “... leaders create a vision, articulate a vision, passionately own the vision and relentlessly drive it to completion.” Vision is the “thing” which can take you from where you are to the more-

than-foreseeable future, for your department or agency. Hyatt points out the following differential in Figure 1, which provides context. The next commentary by Hyatt expresses why many “leaders” fail at vision: they downplay the importance of vision, they are confused about the difference between vision and mission, and they do not feel equipped to move forward in establishing and driving toward a vision. Self-preservation causes many to articulate vision but not continue to relentlessly drive it to completion. And there are several legitimate reasons in the world of corrections to focus on preservation. But by focusing on preservation, does the agency move the agency to where it might go? According to Hyatt there are six pitfalls of not being a vision leader: 1) you are unprepared for the future, using the Kodak case of not being prepared for the digital world as his illustration;

The Vision Driven Leader: 10 Questions to Focus Your Efforts, Energize Your Team, and Scale Your Business Written by Michael Hyatt, Baker Books, 256 pp.

Reviewed by Art Beeler, Senior Lecturing Fellow at Duke Law and Adjunct Professor at North Carolina Central University.

For the past 30 years, I have generally read every leadership book which hits the secondhand stores, partially so I do not pay full price, but also because I am currently involved in helping an organization develop their core values, mission and values. When Michael Hyatt’s book, “The Vision Driven Leader,” was released, I actually paid full-price, and I’m glad I did. While I have studied strategic planning and management for the past 40 years, this little book put vision into perspective better than most other pieces I have read. What made it especially purposeful is that it was an easy read which could be completed in an afternoon.

2) you miss opportunities; 3) your priorities become scattered;

Figure 1

Leaders

Managers

Create and cast vision

Receive and execute vision

Inspire and motivate

Maintain and administer

Weigh and take risks

Control and minimize risks

Focus on the long-term

Focus on the short term

56 — July/August 2020 Corrections Today