We are in historic, unprecedented times. We need others more than perhaps we ever have. You may see so clearly the way forward and others may not.

The Visionary’s Dilemma can impact the best of us, thwarting what we most want to accomplish, dashing a powerful opportunity that could impact many others.

The Visionary’s Dilemma is a paradox. You see what’s possible. Others do not. It’s one of your gifts. Yet, your challenge is to cultivate the enthusiasm, energy, commitment and aligned actions of others to bring your vision to life. You need the expertise, skills, involvement and participation of others to co-create the way forward and execute. You have shared what you see possible, perhaps made requests, but others are not doing what you wish.

What now?

Consider asking yourself the following questions.

• How does what you envision make a difference for others?

• Whose goodwill, enthusiasm, commitment, aligned action is critical to realizing that vision?

• For each person or stakeholder group, what really matters to them?

• How does your vision, what you seek to accomplish impact what matters to them?

• Given their concerns, how can you engage them, in a way they can hear and see what’s possible for themselves?

• What information, support, process, conversations do others need to become aligned and committed?

In our experience, visionary leaders have been thinking about the challenge they are seeking to address for some time. What they see as next steps may be clear and compelling. Yet, they may be six months ahead of everyone else in their thinking. They don’t want to disrespect people by repeating themselves. However, they may not have slowed themselves down to follow the above inquiry model, and guide others to embrace what they see.

Could this be you?

If so, you can start small. Recruit a partner, or, preferably a small team to support you. Authentically discuss why what you seek to do matters, and makes a difference for them and others. Together, you can answer the above questions, and create a plan. You can use the dilemma to create a deeper partnership with these people, as well as meaningful conversations with others.

If what you are working on is urgent, it’s important to convey that as you move forward. Consider creating what we call a Transformational Leadership Retreat. It’s a process for bringing a team, group, or department into powerful aligned action, working at a higher level of creativity, enthusiasm, collaboration, and commitment, leading to sustainable behavior change. The process is guided by inquiry similar to the above. The first two questions, however, are: 

• What’s the urgent need for transformation?

• What’s the transformational goal? 

We have found that a key component of stalled change initiatives large and small is that the leadership is often not fully, emotionally in touch with the urgency. As a result they do not then articulate it in way that relates to each of their audiences, and others do not hear it.

We have found that when leaders speak authentically about the urgency, not as a threat, but as an urgent need, in practical terms that relate to the concerns of others, and, engage others in the process of co-creating what’s next, amazing results are possible. People and departments can transform. Aliveness thrives. 

If you’d like to hear more, contact us about this process or how we might support you in realizing your vision, creating an important retreat, or having conversations that generate powerful outcomes. 

Jackie Sloane specializes in coaching and consulting with leaders to bring out the in themselves, their teams and organizations. Her firm offers Transformational Leadership Retreats and Interventions and custom leadership development experiences and programs. She is founder of Sloane Communications and has a cat named Nyx.