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Business strategy is defined as a long-term plan of action that a business designs to meet its goals. Visionary strategy is making those goals unique and different to outpace your competition and create a successful business. Discovering and creating those strategies is therefore one of the most important tasks you can perform.
Become Obsessed With Quality
Tom Peters, the influential management consultant, states that airline passengers wonder about the quality of their aircraft when they find stains on their laptop tray. Quality is important to your customers, and they look for it in every corner of your company's product or service. To stand out from the competition, become obsessed with quality. Demand it from every employee and model it yourself. Make quality an important part of your business plan and include quality measures in every performance review. Reward it when you see it and watch your business grow.
Define Your Vision Clearly
Walt Disney defined his business strategy simply, "To make people happy." That simple statement says it all, and it makes his goal clear to every employee. Whenever there was doubt about a possible direction, all he had to do was ask himself, "Does this make people happy?" Decisions are made and actions taken by answering that question frequently. Ask yourself what your strategy is. Define it simply, ideally in one or two sentences. Your people will be motivated to accomplish great things if they understand what you stand for.
Strive to Become the Best
No one is ever motivated to be just like everybody else. The foam fingers sold in most sports stadiums state, "We're No. 1." Athletes fight for the championship trophy and the right to be called the best. Your company should declare that it wants to be the best at what it does. Employees will work hard and long if they feel like they are working for a winner. Become the lead dog and enjoy the view from the front.
Constantly Listen to Your Customers
Listen to your customers and make immediate adjustments based on what they tell you. Design and development feedback instruments and measure customer feedback often. Treat your customers better than your competitors do, and they will reward you with their business and loyalty. Stew Leonard of Norwalk, Connecticut, who runs a grocery store and dairy, has become a legend by listening to his customers. He has an engraved rock at the entrance to his dairy with his customer service policy on it for everyone to see -- noting two rules: "the customer is always right" and "if the customer is ever wrong, re-read rule #1." Become a legend in your business by always paying attention to your customers.
Characteristics of Visionary Leadership
George Washington wasn't as educated as Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, but his visionary leadership set him apart. According to a paper published by the University of Virginia, the first president's persona was a combination of characteristics that had prepared him for his unique role in history. You can cultivate key characteristics to be a visionary leader that inspires your team to greatness.
Good Communicator
A visionary leader has good communication skills. She knows how to verbalize her dreams and goals and can explain them to his team. For the leader, communication isn't just one-sided. In addition to sharing her vision for the future, a visionary leader is also an active listener. As more people "catch the vision," leaders listen to their ideas and thoughts, incorporating them into the larger goal. Visionaries involve others in reaching their milestones and help the team members meet their personal goals.
Charismatic Leader
Visionary leaders also have charisma. Merriam-Webster defines charisma as a "personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty." Not everyone is born with this "personal magic," but they can learn and cultivate it. Charisma is a natural attraction that draws people to the leader and the leader's enthusiasm.
Chief Organizer
Visionary leaders also are chief organizers. While many leaders have administrators that manage the processes, the leader often sets up the organization by establishing key departments or functions. As the organizer-in-chief, the visionary directs, develops and conducts meetings until reliable help is found. During the initial organization, a leader will take the time build a solid foundation through establishing boards, councils or a company hierarchy.
Risk-taker
Visionary leaders, like Washington, are notable risk-takers. These leaders are willing to gamble on something they believe in, but the gamble is often a measured one. Visionaries are creative people that take the initiative with the appropriate action. Visionaries take intelligent risks that capitalize on prime conditions. This kind of leader starts small by taking measured steps than later bigger risks.
Strategic Planner
Visionary leaders are strategic planners. Like a chess player, these leaders plan ahead to make the best business moves. Strategic planning involves creating an action plan with a particular strategy in mind. The leader's vision defines what the organization will look like in the future and how it will function. His strategies are designed to take him toward his ultimate vision.
5 Steps for Becoming a Visionary Leader
So, you want to become a visionary leader? But, you're afraid that you lack the foresight and creativity needed to fit the bill. While it may be true that some seem to have been born with an aptitude to anticipate the future, all is not lost if you happen to lack such natural talent. Here are 5 steps that you can take to develop your visionary capabilities:
Practice Re-Imagining How Things Are. Taking the time to ponder alternatives to your firm's current ways of doing things and exploring possibilities for change can be a portal to seeing the future. It is through such consideration that break-through thinking occurs and the potential to great advances are revealed.
Adopt an Outside-In Perspective. Seeing the business from an outsider's point-of-view is enlightening. The practice can inform new ways of thinking and doing because it opens a business up to re-examining its "sacred cows." The practice can lead to the discovery of better approaches to delighting customers and to the identification of new product ideas and innovations.
Ask "Why Not?" When identifying options, don't give up on a preferred solution just because it first appears impossible to realize. Instead, get in the habit of continually asking, "Why not?" Such convention can help you to discover revolutionary solutions to complex problems.
Seek Synergies. Leverage ideas and concepts from like-minded people. Synergistic thinking helps to unearth better answers than the common, conventional ones that are more easily identified. Sometimes combining supporting concepts in a problem-solving effort results in the evolution of truly visionary solution.
Integrate Disparate Ideas Into Your Thinking. Innovation can be described as the reapplication of existing technology. The act of connecting disparate thoughts and theories together to produce new and ground-breaking solutions to today's problems represents a type of innovative thinking that truly visionary leaders possess.
Not everyone is a natural born visionary. However, with work and perseverance, you can develop the skills needed to become better at anticipating the future--an attribute that can help you to become the type of leader that your organization will follow to greatness.
Become Obsessed With Quality
Tom Peters, the influential management consultant, states that airline passengers wonder about the quality of their aircraft when they find stains on their laptop tray. Quality is important to your customers, and they look for it in every corner of your company's product or service. To stand out from the competition, become obsessed with quality. Demand it from every employee and model it yourself. Make quality an important part of your business plan and include quality measures in every performance review. Reward it when you see it and watch your business grow.
Define Your Vision Clearly
Walt Disney defined his business strategy simply, "To make people happy." That simple statement says it all, and it makes his goal clear to every employee. Whenever there was doubt about a possible direction, all he had to do was ask himself, "Does this make people happy?" Decisions are made and actions taken by answering that question frequently. Ask yourself what your strategy is. Define it simply, ideally in one or two sentences. Your people will be motivated to accomplish great things if they understand what you stand for.
Strive to Become the Best
No one is ever motivated to be just like everybody else. The foam fingers sold in most sports stadiums state, "We're No. 1." Athletes fight for the championship trophy and the right to be called the best. Your company should declare that it wants to be the best at what it does. Employees will work hard and long if they feel like they are working for a winner. Become the lead dog and enjoy the view from the front.
Constantly Listen to Your Customers
Listen to your customers and make immediate adjustments based on what they tell you. Design and development feedback instruments and measure customer feedback often. Treat your customers better than your competitors do, and they will reward you with their business and loyalty. Stew Leonard of Norwalk, Connecticut, who runs a grocery store and dairy, has become a legend by listening to his customers. He has an engraved rock at the entrance to his dairy with his customer service policy on it for everyone to see -- noting two rules: "the customer is always right" and "if the customer is ever wrong, re-read rule #1." Become a legend in your business by always paying attention to your customers.
Characteristics of Visionary Leadership
George Washington wasn't as educated as Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, but his visionary leadership set him apart. According to a paper published by the University of Virginia, the first president's persona was a combination of characteristics that had prepared him for his unique role in history. You can cultivate key characteristics to be a visionary leader that inspires your team to greatness.
Good Communicator
A visionary leader has good communication skills. She knows how to verbalize her dreams and goals and can explain them to his team. For the leader, communication isn't just one-sided. In addition to sharing her vision for the future, a visionary leader is also an active listener. As more people "catch the vision," leaders listen to their ideas and thoughts, incorporating them into the larger goal. Visionaries involve others in reaching their milestones and help the team members meet their personal goals.
Charismatic Leader
Visionary leaders also have charisma. Merriam-Webster defines charisma as a "personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty." Not everyone is born with this "personal magic," but they can learn and cultivate it. Charisma is a natural attraction that draws people to the leader and the leader's enthusiasm.
Chief Organizer
Visionary leaders also are chief organizers. While many leaders have administrators that manage the processes, the leader often sets up the organization by establishing key departments or functions. As the organizer-in-chief, the visionary directs, develops and conducts meetings until reliable help is found. During the initial organization, a leader will take the time build a solid foundation through establishing boards, councils or a company hierarchy.
Risk-taker
Visionary leaders, like Washington, are notable risk-takers. These leaders are willing to gamble on something they believe in, but the gamble is often a measured one. Visionaries are creative people that take the initiative with the appropriate action. Visionaries take intelligent risks that capitalize on prime conditions. This kind of leader starts small by taking measured steps than later bigger risks.
Strategic Planner
Visionary leaders are strategic planners. Like a chess player, these leaders plan ahead to make the best business moves. Strategic planning involves creating an action plan with a particular strategy in mind. The leader's vision defines what the organization will look like in the future and how it will function. His strategies are designed to take him toward his ultimate vision.
5 Steps for Becoming a Visionary Leader
So, you want to become a visionary leader? But, you're afraid that you lack the foresight and creativity needed to fit the bill. While it may be true that some seem to have been born with an aptitude to anticipate the future, all is not lost if you happen to lack such natural talent. Here are 5 steps that you can take to develop your visionary capabilities:
Practice Re-Imagining How Things Are. Taking the time to ponder alternatives to your firm's current ways of doing things and exploring possibilities for change can be a portal to seeing the future. It is through such consideration that break-through thinking occurs and the potential to great advances are revealed.
Adopt an Outside-In Perspective. Seeing the business from an outsider's point-of-view is enlightening. The practice can inform new ways of thinking and doing because it opens a business up to re-examining its "sacred cows." The practice can lead to the discovery of better approaches to delighting customers and to the identification of new product ideas and innovations.
Ask "Why Not?" When identifying options, don't give up on a preferred solution just because it first appears impossible to realize. Instead, get in the habit of continually asking, "Why not?" Such convention can help you to discover revolutionary solutions to complex problems.
Seek Synergies. Leverage ideas and concepts from like-minded people. Synergistic thinking helps to unearth better answers than the common, conventional ones that are more easily identified. Sometimes combining supporting concepts in a problem-solving effort results in the evolution of truly visionary solution.
Integrate Disparate Ideas Into Your Thinking. Innovation can be described as the reapplication of existing technology. The act of connecting disparate thoughts and theories together to produce new and ground-breaking solutions to today's problems represents a type of innovative thinking that truly visionary leaders possess.
Not everyone is a natural born visionary. However, with work and perseverance, you can develop the skills needed to become better at anticipating the future--an attribute that can help you to become the type of leader that your organization will follow to greatness.
