In 2012, from a book which is scheduled to be released in 2020, I wrote the following quote; A visionary is a leader of excellence who sees what others do not see, who achieves for now and plans for the future, who positively impacts different generations and raises up other visionaries. ~ Onyi Anyado.
From my message of distinction and the fact the global village is now local, I believe now is the time for the ‘now’ generation of visionary leaders to emerge.
From my school of thought, I wrote; Leadership isn’t about age but rather, leadership is about influence, impact & inspiration. ~ Onyi Anyado.With this truth, I believe employees, teachers and entrepreneurs have the capacity and capability to become visionary leaders.
Below I’ve given five practical steps using myself and other distinguished visionaries as examples that will coach, challenge and convict you on how and why you should become a visionary leader.
1. Lead with excellence.
To become a visionary leader, it is critical you fly the flag of excellence in all your endeavours. With the explosion of social media, you have to understand people are automatically following you and as a visionary leader, it is vital people are led into the arena of excellence rather than into the comfort zone called mediocrity. For me, excellence and branding go ‘hand in hand’ so with this truth, your brand, business and brain (thought leadership) has to empower, equip and enlighten people how to constantly raise the bar of excellence but not just others, you yourself have to be totally sold out to excellence. I deliver talks and workshops titled; How to become a student of distinction™ on educational platforms around the world and one of the topics I teach and speak on is excellence. Knowing my brand is at stake and I have to ‘practice what I teach’, all my slides promote excellence and the result from this means students can now fly into the zone called distinction rather than slipping into the arena of mediocrity.
2. See what others do not see.
To become a visionary leader, it is critical you see what others in your industry are not seeing. What did the likes of Steve Jobs and Henry Ford see what no one in their generation or industry saw? It is interesting their vision is still living, speaking and creating new possibilities long after their death. As an employee, what opportunities for positive change do you see in your organisation and are you ready to use what you see to become distinguished? Once this happens, your distinction will speak for you and actually make others see more clearly and in turn, your leadership position in your organisation will be respected, regarded and recognised.
3. Achieve for now but plan for the future.
By nature, visionary leaders are always in the future. I wrote 12 books in less than 5 years and the reason is over the next 25 years plus, I’m going to be extremely busy with my message and mandate of distinction so 1. Writing books won’t be my main focus and 2. I’m actually looking forward to spending quality time with my wife and children. Knowing the future has already started today, I regularly create distinction which is relevant in 2015 and will be relevant in 2035 and beyond. As an entrepreneur, what can you achieve today that will cement your distinction in say 20 years time? Is it creating an app? Is it writing a book? Or, is it connecting with visionary leaders who can stretch your mind to see past five years?
4. Positively impact different generations.
Simply put, as a visionary leader, your vision has inspire, instruct and impact people in a simple but strategic way. I’m excited and energised that my message of distinction is teaching people young enough to be my children, people in my age group and people old enough to be my parents how to become distinguished in their chosen field. With social media now a way of life and the global village now local, it is easy to inspire your generation with your passion, panache and positioning. If you are a teacher, how can your teaching style equip and enable your pupils/students you teach to regularly excel? What about the other teachers in your institution, does your thought leadership drive them to think out of the box? What about people who want to become teachers? Have you created or do you share videos or articles that show the importance of teaching with distinction? These are just some ways your distinction can impact different generations.
5. Raise up other visionaries.
To become a visionary leader, it is critical you raise other visionaries. Four years ago I clearly remember delivering a talk at London Metropolitan University and my message of distinction so challenged an attendee, he decided it was time to rise up and publish his first book. On the 26th of October 2015, he published his second book and said it was my message and teaching of distinction that opened his mind to see new possibilities and opportunities in becoming distinguished. After about 15 years, I met an old friend from school and he has so received, regarded and recognised my message of distinction that he himself has started his first book and has also found and nurtured his niche and is gaining ground on the journey of distinction. These are just a few examples of what visionary leadership is about, selfless, structured and simple serving. So, who have you identified as the ‘now’ visionary leaders and will the seeds of discipline, dedication and determination bear fruits for others to partake?
You have read five practical, precise and productive steps on how to become a visionary leader and with these truths, visionary leadership has to become a way of life knowing serving others with your gifts, talents and vision actually equals a life of distinction.
Unfortunately, my quote on visionary leadership is too long to tweet but it didn’t stop two separate people making images which they shared across their networks. Truly, visionary leadership works and it is humbling my quote is being used as a bench-mark to teach and raise up visionaries.
I deliver How to become a leader of distinction™ on corporate, business and educational platforms so if you would like my talk/workshop delivered in your organisation, please send an email to info@onyianyadomediahouse.com
A visionary is a leader of excellence who sees what others do not see, who achieves for now and plans for the future, who positively impacts different generations and raises up other visionaries. ~ Onyi Anyado.
