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Chapter 9
THE VISIONARY LEADER
Envisioning
Leadership defines what the future should look like, aligns people with that
vision, and inspires them to make it happen despite the obstacles. John
Kotter, from Leading Change.
A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others
see, and who sees before others do. Leroy Eims.
Some of the previous chapters described the character, behavior,
competencies, and skills needed to be an effective leader. This chapter
builds on all of that with an emphasis on the leader’s ability to craft and
articulate a vision. Regardless of the particular leadership traits or styles
that a leader adopts or skills that are acquired, he/she must have vision.
No one can be a leader without followers, and no one will follow someone
unless it is clear where he or she is headed. That direction comes from a
vision, which is an ideal and unique image of the future. It articulates a
view of the future as the leader sees it, a future condition that would be
better in some important ways than what now exists.
Whatever you can do, or dream you can . . . begin it; boldness has genius,
power and magic in it. Johan Wolfgang von Goethe.
As stated in a book by Kouzes and Posner: Leaders are pioneers. They are
people who venture into unexplored territory. They guide us to new and often
unfamiliar destinations. People who take the lead are the foot soldiers in the
campaigns for change. . . . The unique reason for having leaders – their
differentiating function – is to move us forward. Leaders get us going
someplace. 236 Since most people don’t take the time to think systematically
about the future, those who do and act on their thinking have considerable
power to shape the future.
236 Kouzes, James M. & Posner, Barry Z. The Leadership Challenge: How to Get Extraordinary Things
Done in Organizations (San Francisco CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1987), p.32.
David Kolzow 241
