Visionary leaders are people who do not just
paint a picture, but those that paint it and explain it! The whole essence of
visionary leadership is rooted in one`s ability to effectively share their
vision to others in such that even in their absence what they sought to achieve
is achieved by others. The good thing about vision sharing is that you do not
need to be there for your vision to be achieved. Most importantly you have to
tackle all limitations and turn your tragedies into triumphs. The world has its
own standards of determining hero and heroine status but to me it is those
leaders that have turned their tragedies into triumphs and dark nights into
victory that I believe deserve the status.
A blind man`s world is bounded by the limits
of his touch; an ignorant man`s world by the limits of his knowledge; a great
man`s world by the limits of his vision .Paul Harvey
What
is vision?
Brief
story about Helen Keller
Helen Keller was not born blind or
deaf; instead, it was not until she had a serious illness which may have been
meningitis or scarlet fever, did she lose her hearing and her sight. By
the time that Helen was seven years old, she had more than sixty signs that she
used to communicate with the family. She also was able to communicate
with Martha Washington, daughter of the family cook. In her childhood,
Helen was known for her uncontrollable temper tantrums and her stubborn
streak. Most of her temper tantrums were likely caused by her inability
to communicate her wishes to others.
Helen Keller became an author and
speaker. She is today remembered for her advocacy for people who have
disabilities. She was also a suffragette, a radical socialist, and a
supporter of birth control. She also spoke out against Woodrow
Wilson. Along with George Kessler, she founded the Helen Keller
International organization, which works towards research in nutrition, health,
and vision. Keller assisted with founding the American Civil Liberties
Union in 1920. Annie Sullivan and Helen Keller traveled to more than 39
countries and made several trips to Japan. Helen Keller became somewhat
of a celebrity, and she met every U.S. President from the time of Grover Cleveland
all the way to Lyndon B. Johnson. She also had friendships with the likes
of Charlie Chaplin, Mark Twain, and Alexander Graham Bell.
From 1909 Helen Keller campaigned in
support of the working classes and was a member of the Socialist Party.
She supported Eugene V. Debs, a Socialist Party candidate, in all of his
attempts at the presidency.
What is probably striking about Helen
Keller`s background is her ability to achieve and influence a lot of leaders
despite the fact that she was visually impaired. Likewise visionary leaders are
not perfect beings but their ability to see opportunities in challenges
separates them from others.
Vision is defined by Helen Keller as the
ability to foresee and as “dreams plus reality”
The question “What can be worse than being
born blind?” was once asked Helen Keller and her reply was: “To have sight
without vision”
Clearly
Helen Keller’s response highlights the importance of having a clear vision as
you live your life .Vision gives us a sense of direction, a purpose in life and
a desire to achieve and create opportunities and platforms to achieve. It is
important to create nature and share a vision for an un-nurtured vision dies
with the owner.
The stories around such people seem to
show that there are moments of crisis or decision where the actions of one
person are pivotal. They have a vision of what can, and should be, done and can
communicate this to others. When these are absent there can be trouble.
Visionary leadership is, arguably, central to the survival and success of
groups and organizations. But what is leadership? It seems to be one of those
qualities that you know when you see it, but is difficult to describe. There
are almost as many definitions as there are commentators. Many associate
leadership with one person leading. Four things stand out in this respect.
First, to lead involves influencing others. Second, where there are leaders
there are followers. Third, leaders seem to come to the fore when there is a
crisis or special problem. In other words, they often become visible when an
innovative response is needed. Fourth, leaders are people who have a clear idea
of what they want to achieve and why. Thus, leaders are people who are able to
think and act creatively in non-routine situations – and who set out to
influence the actions, beliefs and feelings of others. In this sense being a
‘leader’ is personal. It flows from an individual’s qualities and actions.
However, it is also often linked to some other role such as manager or expert.
Nurturing
your Vision
A vision needs and has to be nurtured,
re-ignited, groomed and shared with others in order for one to be effective.
For like a rose that is not watered and pruned a vision may die and go to waste
no matter how attractive and useful it was bound to be. As a leader one has to
get into a habit of practicing the following:
Write
it
Naturally human beings tend to remember better
that which they would have written down .This gives the mind a better room for
storing things in it as compared to hearing .Writing gives us a visual picture
of what would have transpired .The aspect of writing down your vision is also
cemented in the bible as highlighted below :
“Write the vision, make it plain on tablets,
so that a runner may read it” (Habakkuk 2:2)
The runner may be taken as your potential
follower in leadership. Your vision should be vividly shared amongst those you
lead so that they can perform to their best in a manner that will satisfy you
.This will give you more room for performance appraisal.
“If you tell us we will hear, if you involve
us we will understand”
Pray
it –prayer is a
necessary tool as it develops and strengthens our passion
Prayer changes all, it is a necessary
practice, and it grooms and builds passion and a strong desire success with an
exemplary life.
Share
it-a good leader
has the ability to share his or her vision. Vision sharing gives you
accountability because people are now aware of your endeavors and may adopt a
wait and see attitude. You have to leave up to your expectations and in the
process mentor others.
Do
it-’actions speak
louder than words”
Vision building is
like sewing plants ,it is a seed that we plant now with the future in mind as Napoleon Hill asserts “Cherish your
visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints
of your ultimate achievements “
Seven vision levels of people
Vision is something
that we are all bound to experience in one way or the other. The following
seven levels are a summary of categories or phases which we are likely to pass
through in vision building with some people not going through all of them
Some people never see it (they are wanderers)
Some people see it but do not pursue on their
own (they are followers)
Some people see it and pursue it (they are
achievers)
Some have it and loose it in the way (they are
not rooted in vision)
Some people don’t understand it but have an
idea (they are potential sheep that need a shepherd)
Some people theorize it and are never
practical about pursuing it (they are leadership passengers)
Some people see it and pursue it and help
others see it (they are leaders)
Visionary leaders
The Bible presents
us with many and classical examples of visionary leaders and emphasis the need
for it to exist whether at an individual national or global level. Vision is by
far a key aspect of leadership as it sets the ground for the achievements of
greater heights and enables leaders to begin with the future in mind. Without
we perish, dreams are destroyed, confidence is lost, there is no hope and we
are bound to be easily discouraged in our endeavours .With vision comes a plan
for the future and with a plan for the future we develop a desire to exert
positive influence on others. Biblical teachings in the books of Proverbs give
a clear need for us to have a vision .According to the book of proverbs
“Where
there is no vision the people perish” Proverbs 29:18
History is pregnant with a number of visionary leaders in a number of
areas in life. These people have a clear purpose in life and have lived to
inspire others. “Purpose is the
discovery of those gifting, abilities, potential and strengths that bring the
greatest reward, achievement, inspiration, solutions and excellence to you and
many others.(Proverbs 29:18).Their level of vision by far exceeded the
expectations of many as they have managed to have their vision live beyond
themselves and the world today is benefiting from their ability to effectively
share their vision in a manner that allowed others to buy into their ideas and
input. In the recent years we have experienced a new twist and caliber
of young people who have had huge leadership influence .As a writer I am
greatly moved and challenged by the success stories of Mark Elliot Zuckerberg,
Goos Uknwoke and Bulelwa Mkutukana (Zahara) and Strive Masiyiwa .Their continued success
gives hope to the future, it allows us to celebrate success beyond the generation
of Bill Gates and that of Warren Buffet .It is testimony that “miracles” do
happen when we believe in ourselves. The high levels of visionary leadership
that they have put into action are that of a high caliber.
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