On this Friday, (158 years ago!) on November 19th, 1863 Abraham Lincoln gave the infamous Gettysburg Address. And still, his vision and the words used to describe can be used as a lesson for contemporary leaders. Leaders must describe a vision for their organization and communicate it effectively. It is fundamental. Vision is a mental image of what the future world ought to be like and is important for several reasons.

Many experts argue that effective modern leaders must be “thinkers,” those who can take time in solitude to consider what should be done and – and perhaps more importantly – why. Thinkers who question the routine can formulate new ideas and directions with independence, creativity, and flexibility.