The Essential Qualities of Every Visionary Leader

“A young woman business leader draws out her vision on a whiteboard.”

What makes a visionary leader in business? Business success is only one characteristic that defines a leader in an industry, but success comes to those who are already visionaries.

The future of business leaders is changing the world. They’re forward-facing managers, growth-minded individuals, and they’re always thinking about the future and how they can make their mark on it.

They’re Forward-Thinking

When a visionary sees an opportunity, they don’t just see the short-term gain. Visionaries see the potential to make a difference in an industry.

When inventor and disruptor Regan McGee saw how far-removed real estate agents’ jobs were from the commissions they’ve traditionally charged, he saw a whole new way of doing business. He founded Nobul, a dynamic digital marketplace that has since upended the way people find real estate agents, putting the power in consumers’ hands and challenging a stagnant industry.

That’s the kind of forward-thinking vision that true business leaders bring to the table.

They’re Creative Problem Solvers

Leaders in business need to be innovative and creative in order to succeed within a dynamic, competitive market. For them to be able to develop the products and services they envision, they must have an expansive vision.

They’re Bold Risk-Takers

No one creates change when they’re afraid to take risks. Visionaries have toughness and determination that allows them to take on established ideas and policies that aren’t working. They resist pressures that work against their vision, but they’re never afraid of failure, either.

Success doesn’t always happen in one go. They learn to overcome their failures, to adapt to new situations, and to try again.

They Recognize Talent

Each of the unique challenges that big picture leaders have to face is theirs. People who are able to see the big picture and have clear visions of their ambitions and goals may overlook details. They may sacrifice the present for the sake of the future or miss out on other opportunities because they’re so focused on their singular goal.

That’s why even the most successful and ambitious visionaries need to surround themselves with an excellent team. Visionary leaders know how to pick the people that will support and challenge their vision.

They’re Great Communicators

Leaders aren’t just responsible for themselves. They have to bring a team together and get them to coalesce around a singular vision, and that’s a task that takes great communication skills. The vision must be understood and believed by everyone. They can also invite all members of the team to participate in the creative process, which creates a stronger collaborative environment.

They have emotional intelligence

An innovative idea is hard to come by, but visionary leaders aren’t just innovators. They’re also great managers, and that’s a task that requires an element of emotional intelligence. They have the ability to attract people, make them enthusiastic about projects, keep them focused, positive, and motivated.

While emotional intelligence is not a hard skill, it can help other members of the team to see their place in the larger vision. It also helps them appreciate the importance and value of their contributions.

Entrepreneurship Life’s first article was entitled The Essential Qualities for Every Visionary Leader.

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