Picture Credits – Jeannie Selda
“Visionary leaders who learn how to communicate
what they see to others in a way that leaves
their families, teams and friends inspired, will thrive.
I call this bridge building.”
– Jennifer Hough
It’s interesting that visionaries are terrific at seeing the big picture but, sadly, not always great at building bridges so others can share their visions for the future of their business, projects, families and dreams. It’s frustrating for others that don’t see life in the same way.
As a visionary, I find it frustrating because sometimes, we can’t understand why others don’t see our future vision and sometimes judge colleagues unfairly.
In the past, I’ve had to deal with this in TWA. My brain is naturally wired for the big picture, which is no better or worse, just a different way of being. Sometimes, though, we visionaries unhelpfully project our way of thinking onto others, assuming they see what we see, leaving them feeling they didn’t get the memo about the way forward.
Visionary leaders who learn how to communicate what they see to others in a way that leaves their families, teams and friends inspired, will thrive. I call this bridge building and it is a seriously valuable skill.
If you have a movement or an idea that will change systems, businesses, education, healthcare, or any aspect of peoples’ lives but are struggling, I’ll guarantee the issue lies in your ability to effectively communicate the idea.
Bridge building is a communication technique requiring empathy, humility, the ability to ask great questions, and some serious listening skills.
It’s important for the visionary, who may be revered by those around them, to keep their ego in check. Inspiring those who implement and manage the vision requires humility and as much genius as the creation of the idea itself. These skills are essential in fulfilling our dreams and goals.
Every role is equally important in manifesting a dream. By understanding and taking your role seriously, you’ll be able to compassionately ask for an explanation when a visionary goes off on a tangent. If you’re the visionary, make sure you bring your vision to the team with patience and clarity, building bridges by understanding how others see the world.
The world needs pioneers and visionaries to generate ideas with harmony and flow. No matter what your particular role may be, know it’s as important as any other in bringing about change.
Thanks for leaning in to your part.
