Have you heard of visionary leadership? It's that leadership style that you often see in high-tech startups, where the leader has a big-picture view of what success looks like. But it's not just about having a vision, it takes more than that.
Visionary leadership: what does it mean?
Visionary leaders are charismatic, have great communication skills, and are contagious with their enthusiasm. They also have a touch of radical thinking, which sets them apart from the rest.
What makes visionary leadership so special is that the leader has such a strong belief in their vision for the future, that nothing seems impossible. And they expect the same level of belief from their team. This type of leadership can be a game-changer for motivating employees and winning over stakeholders, especially during tough times. Plus, it's a PR win! Pair a visionary leader with a strategic one, and you've got a recipe for success.
When visionary leadership is effective?
Well, it works well in fast-paced industries like tech and in agencies where everyone needs to be on the same page. But, if you're a more radical visionary leader, it's best to have a well-funded organization to support you. Otherwise, your risk-taking could cost the company.
New organizations can also benefit from visionary leadership, as long as there's a senior leadership team or a strategic partner to keep things in check. And if you're worried that you're leaning too far towards the radical side, here are some tactics to keep your unique and innovative flair while reigning in your eccentricities.
How to make your visionary leadership style even better?
Workshop Tactics:
Use Sticky Steps when you have a fantastic goal in mind but need a practical plan to achieve it.
Assumption Collecting helps reduce the risk of assumptions, whether it's your own grand assumptions or your team's skepticism.
Idea Tactics:
Concerns, Confusions, Conflicts is a great way to stress-test your ideas with your team.
Invest Your PipCoins for a democratic approach to decision-making.
Team Tactics:
Roles & Responsibilities and Team Strategy set boundaries and create clarity on who does what, while giving autonomy where needed.
And if you're the visionary leader without a strategic streak, it's important to have a strong culture of accountability and psychological safety so that your team can call you out on any rash decisions.
Pros and cons of visionary leadership
Pros:
Highly innovative
Can be extremely rewarding for those suited to it
Cons:
High levels of risk
Employees can burn out from constantly asking "What if" without actually finishing projects
One of the issues with visionary leadership is that visionaries often overlook practicalities like budgets, deadlines, and HR policies. In fact, you could say that a visionary leader who does take these things into consideration is actually a transformational leader.
And to make things even more complicated, a leader who uses different approaches as needed is considered a situational leader. So, it seems like just being "visionary" isn't enough.
You may also be interested in our FREE Visionary Leadership download - here.
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