When you think \u201cvisionary leader,\u201d who comes to mind? The\nlate Steve Jobs taking the stage for a product announcement that will revolutionize\nculture and communication\u2026again? Elon Musk, the bold maverick doing what\u2019s\nnever been done before in the design and production of automobiles and creating\nthe possibility that you too can travel into space? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While it can be natural to give the \u201cvisionary leader\u201d title to the likes of Jobs and Musk, visionary leadership doesn\u2019t have to always be bombastic and grandiose. It can be cultivated at all levels of leadership<\/a>, whether you\u2019re a team lead or CEO. So, what is a visionary leadership style and how can you put the qualities of visionary leadership<\/a> into practice for team success, without falling prey to the pitfalls and clich\u00e9s that often snare so-called \u201cvisionaries\u201d? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The concept of applying and adopting various leadership styles<\/a> was popularized by psychologist Daniel Goleman<\/a> through his evidence-based research on emotional intelligence. In his book \u201cPrimal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence,\u201d Goleman describes six different styles of leadership\u2014visionary, coaching, affiliative, democratic, pacesetting, commanding\u2014and how the most effective leaders embrace all six styles, utilizing the appropriate style based on situational, organizational or human cues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Goleman describes<\/a> the situation most appropriate for applying visionary leadership as one of directional change, where openness is critical for blazing new paths: \u201cVisionary leaders articulate where a group is going, but not how it will get there \u2013 setting people free to innovate, experiment, take calculated risks.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, when visionary style is your only style it can leave your team confused about their priorities, searching for vital details, dealing with \u201c<\/a>organizational whiplash<\/a>\u201d in the face of constant change and unsure where the organization (and their career) is going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Therefore, it can be critical for visionary leaders to balance their style and surround themselves with fellow C-levels, directors, managers or team leads more adept at integrating the other leadership styles into the mix when being democratic, coaching, or a pacesetter isn\u2019t their strong suit. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tempering the freewheeling brainstorming, experimentation and charisma with these grounded qualities and practices can help you harness your visionary leadership style or boldly step up as a visionary leader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Visionary leaders can often see what no one else sees,\nfinding potential and opportunity in a time of change or even company contraction.\nThey see what\u2019s not there\u2014or what\u2019s not there yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An invention of World War II, duct tape was used for everything from securing machinery to bandaging the wounded before becoming the go-to for holding ventilation ducts together in its familiar silver color. Nearly 40 years after its invention, a visionary leader named Jack Kahl<\/a> trademarked the Duck Tape brand of duct tape and became the first to manufacture it in a variety of colors. Today, Duck Tape (and now other brands) comes in fluorescents, patterns and even customizable prints that creative DIY-ers use to make wallets, flowers and even dresses. <\/p>\n\n\n\n No one else had thought of manufacturing colored duct tape\u2014they\ndidn\u2019t see a need or the potential of different\ncolors of duct tape to take the product beyond its functional use to being\nsomething fun and even fashionable for an entirely new market of consumers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A visionary leadership style embraces the unknown as a blank canvas for innovation, experimentation and pioneering new possibilities. In order to cast that larger vision for a team or organization, that often means having the ability to look at the situation\u2014whether it\u2019s an organizational restructure or diminishing product sales\u2014in a different light, even when there seems to be no light at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For teams working in the midst of change or grasping to\nunderstand their role within the larger vision, it can be hard to see that\ngrand vision. This is when visionary leaders have to become people uniters,\nbringing teams and entire organizations together and leading them in a common\ndirection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can play out in different scenarios with visionary\nleadership style tapping into the flair of storytelling or symbolism to paint a\npowerful picture that energizes people toward the future goal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In May 1961, still reeling from the failed Bay of Pigs invasion and fearful of falling even further behind the Soviet Union in the space race, President John F. Kennedy vowed<\/a> in a speech before Congress that America would be the country to put the first man on the moon “before this decade is out.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his speech, Kennedy didn\u2019t shy away from using the space\nrace as an analogy of the Cold War, \u201cif we are to win the battle that is now\ngoing on around the world between freedom and tyranny,\u201d and the greater purpose\nit served in \u201cthe impact of this adventure on the minds of men everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though he applied the metaphors of \u201cbattle\u201d and \u201cadventure,\u201d\nKennedy was not abstract about his expectations, \u201cthat this nation should\ncommit itself to achieving the goal\u2026\u201d nor the costs of striving towards that\ngoal: \u201cLet it be clear that I am asking the Congress and the country to accept\na firm commitment to a new course of action, a course which will last for many\nyears and carry very heavy costs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Visionary leaders recognize that the individual, collective team and even an entire nation must align with the vision, have a clear goal and understand their role in making this vision for the future a reality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Innovative ideas and grandiose vision are meaningless if not\nfollowed up by action. The flair and charisma so often associated with the\nvisionary leadership style must be balanced by discipline, focus and a specific\ncourse of action. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In rallying the nation behind his goal to put man on the\nmoon, President Kennedy broke that goal down into four \u201cnational goals\u201d and was\nupfront about the anticipated financial costs: \u201c531 million dollars in fiscal\n’62\u2014an estimated 7 to 9 billion dollars additional over the next five years.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n A visionary leader ensures the vision becomes reality by stating clear goals, outlining a strategic plan for achieving those goals <\/a>and equipping and empowering each member to take action on the plan at the organizational, team and individual levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\nVisionary Leadership Style<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
3 Qualities of Visionary Leaders<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Visionary Leaders See the World Differently<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Visionary Leaders Help Others See the Vision<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Visionary Leaders Turn the Vision into Reality<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n