Are You a Visionary Leader?

Given the current business climate, the concept of visionary leadership plays an integral part in the business strategy of every organization. The news of the suffering economy, layoffs, hiring freezes and budget cuts has taken its toll on workers—and possibly more concerning, on the leaders of companies.

As the leader of your organization, think about your own leadership style and the possibility of taking a new approach. It’s a crazy time. So, to achieve your vision, you may have to alter your strategies and change your tactics, which to be honest, just might be necessary.

Visionary leaders possess many traits, including:

• The unique ability to see exactly where they want to go. Plus, being emotionally connected to where they want to be.
• The ability to help people around them see the same vision with distinct clarity—as well as evoke an emotional connection to the organization’s goals. The key here is for them to understand what the benefits are to them—job security, monetary rewards, public recognition or better lifestyle at the organization.
• Being open to learning at all times. Visionary leaders realize they cannot pick and choose where and when learning will occur. Plus, they are open to learning from everyone on the organizational chart.
• Promoting and supporting creative thinking, risk taking and out-of-the-box initiatives. They do this knowing they could fail but that it’s important for business improvement. Visionary leaders understand that if they do fail—and the mistakes are not repeated—it is a great learning opportunity.
• Being extraordinarily conscious of giving credit to the individuals on their team. And, if something fails, visionary leaders take responsibility rather than pointing fingers.
  If you’re able to achieve all or even just a portion of these traits, you’re well on your way to being a visionary leader. Force yourself, your executives and your team to ask themselves the following question to help achieve business success, “Where are we going, how are you helping us get there and what are your rewards when we get to the other side?”