Leaders and Vision

Graphics courtesy of UC SolutionOpens in new window

Importance of Being a Visionary Leader

The importance of vision is an old idea, first stated in the Bible: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Henry David ThoreauOpens in new window describes the importance of having a visionOpens in new window and striving to attain it:

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.,Henry David Thoreau

According to Ralph LaurenOpens in new window,

A leader has the vision and conviction that a dream can be achieved. He inspires the power and energy to get it done.Ralph Lauren

Overall, it could be argued that vision:

With that said, an obvious question is “Why is vision important in leadership?”

Vision shows a leader and others where they are headed. A leader has to look forward and see where they and the organization are headed. This is important in order to avert catastrophe before it happens, or to plan for increases in staffing, production, and so forth.

Vision helps a leader prepare for the future. Vision keeps a leader on course during difficult or rocky times or unexpected setbacks.

Having a plan for success in an organization is one of the most valuable things that a leader can have so she or he don’t make the mistake of not having a clear vision and accompanying strategic plan. Here are several reasons why vision is important in leadership:

1. Vision provides motivation and inspires us to keep on going. Leaders need to keep the end result in mind. A leader’s vision needs to be strong enough to carry them through to the end. Otherwise, they will stop short of their goals.
2. Vision helps to keep us moving forward and move through obstacles. If a leader has a strong vision, little setbacks and obstacles will seem small and/or insignificant. They will work through them and persevere to the end, learning as they go. Vision helps leaders to persevere.
3. Vision provides focus. With all of life’s distractions, and people vying for our attention nowadays, it can be hard to feel a sense of accomplishment. A leader acting on her or his vision has the focus needed to accomplish set goals. Vision helps leaders work on what is important to achieve the end results and not get caught up in the mundane stuff. It helps leaders to focus on the 20% that is important instead of the remaining 80% that can be delegated and handled by others.

4. Vision gives a leader meaning and purpose to what they do. As vision helps a leader see the end result of their efforts. It will give them their “Why?” and the reason that they are doing what they do.

Researchers frequently characterize the leader as the vision holder, the keeper of the dream, or the person who has a vision of the organization’s purpose. Bennis writes that leaders “manage the dream.” This aspect of leadership has been frequently called visionary leadership. According to several scholars, visionary leadership is dynamic and involves a three stage continuum:

• an image of the desired future for the organization (vision) is
• communicated (shared), which serves to
• ”empower those followers so that they can enact the vision.”

Think again of leaders like Henry Ford (or Walt Disney) as visionary leaders who had images of the desired future for their organizations, communicated the (shared) vision, and empowered followers to enact their visions for the future.

Visionary leaders have a clear picture of what they want to accomplish. The vision of their organization provides purpose, meaning, and significance to the work of the organization and enables them to motivate and empower the employees to contribute to the realization of the vision.