Everyday Leader as Visionary

What do you see when you envision a visionary leader? A futurist founder and CEO? A highly successful politician? An aspirational blue-sky thinker? Or maybe someone like Martin Luther King, Jr., who with his passion and clear communication shared his vision for equal rights to an entire nation, inspiring millions.

Of course, these kinds of individuals do often have a visionary mindset, but visionaries can be everyday leaders and managers, as well. You can take steps to adopt a more visionary style and skill set. I truly believe that each of us can be a visionary leader who inspire our staff and teams.  This can create innovation, and job satisfaction because there is an understanding of and commitment to the vision.

With more than 60 years of leadership styles research, Korn Ferry describes the visionary leadership style as one that provides clarity and long-term direction to team members. This is a person who explains how and what team members need to do, but more importantly why it is important.  The visionary leader:

• Thinks of promoting the vision as a vital part of the job
• Asks for team members’ input on the vision and the path for enacting it, while simultaneously maintaining authority
• Puts standards-setting and performance evaluation within the context of the larger vision

There are a variety of ways to enhance the vision in your organization:  

First, help senior leaders (this refers to large or small companies) shape the company’s vision by putting them more in touch with customer experiences, operational realities, and the values and priorities of the people working for them. Getting input from all stakeholders puts flesh on the bones of a vision.

Second, “translate” the company’s vision for your team. Make it come alive by sharing stories of its impact on customers, or employees. By doing so, you help turn something that may seem intangible into something concrete – a kind of visioneering.

Third, allow for innovation at all levels, which can bubble up to the CEO. Visions don’t always emanate from the top.

Here are a few more tips to improve your involvement in visioning:

• Don’t confuse vision with mission, values, or strategy. Vision is a big-picture view of future success. Mission is why your organization exists. Values are the principles by which your organization operates. And strategy is the decisions about how and where your company competes.
• Research examples of company visions you find impressive. There are so many out there! Talk with those who’ve been involved in developing these visions to understand why and how they came to fruition.

Remember, visionaries can be everyday leaders and managers. What is your vision?  How do you interpret the vision where you work? How are you making it come alive for your employees? Visionaries drive progress and change. They inspire people to work toward future goals, even if it is a long journey ahead. Become a Vision champion! The ripple effect can be very powerful!

Thank you for reading this Leadership Insight of the Month.  Lead well out there!