Visionary Leadership

Hello there! Let’s get settled in for Week Five.


This week, I am focusing on visionary leadership. When I first read this term, I definitely raised an eyebrow. Having a vision and being a leader are two concepts that I am familiar with. But the single concept of visionary leadership? I was thinking, “Is there even a difference?” And the answer is yes, after doing research I understand that there definitely is. Being a visionary leader is something much different, and a crucial leadership strategy.


A visionary leader looks into the future and identifies a goal for their organization. They embody that goal and work towards it every day, encouraging others to do so as well. Visionary leaders look at situations and think about what could come from them. They come up with a plan to bring their vision to life and work towards the betterment of the organization.


A good visionary leader will establish their goal and let it be known. This way, everyone in the organization knows what they are working towards and why it is important. When I think of a visionary leader, I immediately think of Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. will forever be known and respected for his work as a civil rights activist and his fight for racial equality. In his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, given to 250,000 people, Martin Luther King Jr. says exactly that: “I have a dream.” Martin Luther King Jr.’s “dream,” as referred to in his speech, was a world without racial injustice and equal civil and economic rights (Tearle,). Throughout his speech, King identified how he as an individual and the United States as a whole could work to achieve dream. Martin Luther King Jr. is a phenomenal example of a visionary leader who identified what the future could hold and worked every day to make it happen. 


While creating a vision of what the future of an organization could become seems like a job well done, it does not stop there. Visionary leaders must stay true to their goals, making appropriate changes that stay on brand with the vision. They have the responsibility of being transparent with the organization, explaining the steps that must be taken in order to reach the intended success. Then, a visionary leader will follow these steps alongside their team. In other words, visionary leadership is all about the follow-through. A lot goes into changing the world, improving an organization, or even working on a small project. When doing these things, you are going to want a visionary leader on your team. Or, even better, YOU want to be the visionary leader.


Similar to everyday leadership, visionary leadership does not have to be something that we consider bigger than ourselves. Not all visionary leaders will live to be a revolutionist as famous as Martin Luther King Jr. Anyone can be a visionary leader within their workplace, organization, and personal life. A good boss or manager will use visionary leadership to work towards a positive future or goal for their team. Members of the team will understand what they need to do in order to reach the goals. At the beginning of the year, the chief executive of a sales company may say that in six months, they want sales to go up 25%. Anyone can dream this, but a visionary leader will provide a plan to get there. They will also embody what it takes, and put in the work themselves. 


When I first think of the concept of leadership, a few important ideas that surround it come to mind. Some of these are elements of leadership such as confidence, strength, passion, and influence. After researching visionary leadership and its effectiveness, vision will now come to mind. I firmly believe that vision is an element of leadership. According to research, vision can be the “principle force” behind organizational leadership (McCurdy, 2006). I agree with this stance that a vision is what drives leadership. To effectively communicate ideas and goals, a leader must have a clear vision. Having a vision will bring passion out of leaders that makes their work ethic infectious and motivates others to follow. 


Not only does having a vision contribute to effectively communicating goals to an organization, but it also inspires creativity and dreaming big. Many people and leaders limit themselves and their organizations due to outstanding circumstances they may not be able to control. For example, financial struggles, illnesses, health precautions such as those faced in COVID-19, and more. When people feel limited, they keep their visions small. Instead of treating a vision as something to live by, they will think of it as a suggestion. A good leader will dream big, despite limitations or struggles. They will, as the old saying goes, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.” Leaders should create powerful and moving visions. Even if it does not pan out as intended, a leader working towards a vision will only get closer to it. 


Furthermore, leading with a vision will attract people to your organization (Samanta, 2022). Working with a vision in mind says a lot about an organization’s culture. Clearly, a leader who has identified a vision can also recognize what has failed in the past or not been as good as it could have. People are drawn to a humble and genuine leader who wants the best for their organization. Personally, if I was choosing between two jobs, I would choose the company with the most well-thought and communicated vision. If one company proudly told me their vision statement and ideas for the year, I would see them as organized, driven and eager. They would stand out to me more than a company who did not seem confident about their potential and future. Leaders within a vision-focused company are likely influential among employees and contribute to the motivation of the team. Not only will people want to join this kind of work force, but people and organizations will be able to learn from it. 


Visionary leadership is an important form of leadership that should not be overlooked. I am thankful to have been directed towards this topic, because I see the importance of it in my everyday life and leadership strategies. A good leader should always start with a vision. What’s yours? 


Come back next week!


Maiya Sokol



References

McCurdy, H. (n.d.). Vision and leadership - UW faculty web server. Washington.edu. https://faculty.washington.edu/mccurdy/SciencePolicy/McCurdy%20Vision%20and%20Leader.pdf 

Oliver Tearle. (2023, September 7). A summary and analysis of Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. Interesting Literature. https://interestingliterature.com/2022/10/martin-luther-king-i-have-a-dream-speech-summary-analysis/ 

    Samanta, S. (2022, August 9). What is leadership vision. OpenGrowth. https://www.opengrowth.com/resources/what-is-leadership-vision

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