Visionary Leadership

Visionary Leadership by Burt Nanus intends to help us in "creating a compelling sense of direction for your organization," according to the sub-title. The nine chapters of this book are divided into three parts:
Part One: What Vision is and Why it Matters
Part Two: Developing the Vision
Part Three: Implementing the Vision

Many leadership gurus believe that casting a vision for an organization is the most important thing a leader can do. Nanus apparently agrees by titling his first chapter, "Vision: The Key to Leadership."

Chapter three, "Taking Stock: The Vision Audit," is particularly helpful. Nanus suggests four questions that need to be answered to determine where the organization currently stands regarding vision. Those questions are:

1. Does the organization have a clearly stated vision? If so, what is it?

2. If the organization continues on its current path, where will it be heading over the next decade? How good would such a direction be?

3. Do the key people in the organization know where the organization is headed and agree on the direction?

4. Do the structures, processes, personnel, incentives, and information systems support the current direction of the organization?

Nanus provides examples and additional questions to consider when auditing the organizational vision.

The remainder of Visionary Leadership focuses on developing and improving the organization's vision and implementing any changes needed.

I particularly like the emphasis of chapter eight, "Running the Race with No End: The Re-Visioning Process." The world changes, the organization changes, the players change. And in the midst of it all, the organization vision must be re-examined and revised as needed to express the intentions of the organization.

My favorite quote is at the beginning of chapter seven:

"When it comes to the future,
there are three kinds of people:
those who let it happen,
those who make it happen,
and those who wonder what happened."
--John M. Richardson, Jr.