The best innovations and the best leadership often begins with a vision. You have a clear idea of how things could be better and what it would take to get to that point. A true visionary is rare, but it is a skill that can be learned with practice and organization. 

Visionary management styles involve managers who look at the big picture and then communicate that big picture to their team. They then leave it to the team to sort out the details, rather than micromanaging every step. When done well, visionary managers can motivate their team and oversee great output. However, every management style has its drawbacks, including this one. 

Advantages of the Visionary Management Style

Visionary managers are charismatic leaders who inspire those around them and clearly communicate their visions. There are a number of advantages to utilizing the visionary management style, including:

Effective Communication

One of the skills that sets visionary managers apart is their communication skills. By using clear, effective communication to explain their vision, they can ensure that their entire team is on the same page. This puts a stop to a lot of frustrating errors that can happen because one team member had a different idea of what they were doing than another.

Popular With Their Team

Employees don’t like to be micromanaged. They like to feel that they have some control over the work they do and some freedom in how they do that. Because visionary managers give that space, they tend to be popular with their team. Visionary managers are also well-liked for their sense of empathy, the encouragement and empowerment they give to their teams.

Temporary Setbacks Have Less Impact

One thing that’s certain is that there will be some deviation from your plan based on unforeseen circumstances. Visionary managers take into account that there might be setbacks, and they know how to handle these setbacks. When the team is too unable to see the forest for the trees, a temporary setback may seem much bigger than it is. When you see the big picture, it’s harder to let those setbacks stop you.

Inspire Enthusiasm

It’s important to keep morale high in the workplace in order to have a healthy and reliable team. Visionary managers are natural optimists. They share their vision with enthusiasm and inspire that confidence and enthusiasm in their team. Plus, by not micromanaging, the team has more freedom with their work, which tends to make them feel more fulfilled. 

Disadvantages of the Visionary Management Style

No management style will fit every situation with every team. Even the visionary management style has some challenges and pitfalls to watch out for. Some of the disadvantages of the visionary management style may include:

Day-To-Day Operations Fall By the Wayside

Visionary managers are skilled when it comes to looking to the future. However, that can mean that sometimes they lose sight of what’s going on currently. Smaller details, such as day-to-day operations, may fall by the wayside. These are usually left to the team under their supervision. However, without direction from the manager, there may be a lack of organization with these elements.

Must Be Able to Communicate the Vision

As said above, clear communication is a common trait of visionary managers. This is because it’s something you need in order to succeed as a visionary manager. If you cannot communicate your vision, it doesn’t matter how brilliant it is. Your team will not be able to realize it and you may be seen as unqualified for the role of manager. 

May Lose Sight Of Other Good Ideas

Visionary managers have a clear idea of their vision. They know the big picture of what needs to be done, and they know how to set about doing it. However, this can sometimes lead to becoming tunnel-visioned on that one particular vision. That means when other good ideas come up that don’t necessarily align with that vision, you might fail to see the appeal. If there is a better idea out there, a visionary manager who has become tunnel-visioned about their own vision may not notice it.

Sometimes Unrealistic Expectations

Visionary managers are able to think outside the box, which can be a blessing but also a hindrance if taken to extreme. Visionaries have a tendency to keep their heads in the clouds. Because of this, they may find themselves a little disconnected from reality. Sometimes this can result in lofty goals and unrealistic expectations. They may need to be open to a healthy dose of realism from their team in order to stay grounded.