The Visionary leadership style moves people towards shared dreams. Visionary leaders articulate a vision that rings true for themselves and attune it to the values shared by the people they lead. Visionary leaders help people see how their work fits into the big picture. To be credible, visionary leaders must truly believe their own visions. People quickly sense when a leader is being disingenuous.
The organisation’s values need to be reflected in the leader’s behaviour and values. Hence the importance of transparency and the removal of smokescreens within the company. The visionary leader moves toward honesty and sharing information. Visionary leaders understand that distributing knowledge is the secret to success.
When to use the Visionary Style
This style works well in many business situations. It is particularly effective when a business is adrift – during a turnaround or when it is in need of a fresh vision.
The visionary style fails when a leader is working with a team of experts or peers who are more experienced than the leader, and who might view the vision as pompous or out of step with the agenda at hand.
Source: “The New Leaders” – Daniel Goleman
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