They must know where they are headed and have a destination in mind when they ask others to join them on the journey. We are certainly unwilling to join those leaders who are directionless. In order to effectively communicate such a vision, leaders must draw on past experience, analyze present opportunities, and imagine scenarios of the future. These tools enable them to formulate and articulate inspiring visions. These visions are often conveyed through stories rooted in history but looking forward to the future.
Leaders transmit their own beliefs in their visionary stories through vivid and optimistic language.
Leaders must be sensitive to the winds of change and to emerging patterns and trends. They must keep an open mind and be alert to the way the world is moving. Through the clutter and clatter of the present kaleidoscopic world, they are able to discern new perceptual patterns that don't fit the old molds. Attribute A recent Columbia University study suggests that, especially for senior executives, being forward-looking is a most essential leadership attribute. The first of four strategies held by leaders in common was attention through vision.