Despite the overuse of the word, vision is still a critical element of leadership, says John Adair, professor of leadership studies at Surrey University in England and author of The Inspirational Leader: How to Motivate, Encourage & Achieve Success (Kogan Page, 2003). “Leading the way implies that you can see – literal vision – the path,” he writes. Ask yourself the following questions to see if you are a visionary leader:

• Does your vision paint a vivid picture of the future? True visionary leaders can see the possibilities so clearly that the picture of the future is already a reality for them, even though it exists only in their minds. Its very vividness enables the leader to make the vision seem real to his or her followers.

• Is your vision shared? Your team must share in the vision for it to be effectively undertaken. The greater the degree to which your employees share your vision, the more likely it is to become a reality.

• Is your vision exciting? It doesn’t matter how intricately you present your vision if it’s not inspiring or exciting to others – or to yourself. Your vision must be something that you and your team can be dedicated to without reservation.

• Does your vision go beyond imagination? Effective vision is imagination blended with reality. It’s not enough to picture a better future for your team; that future must be achievable given the resources on hand. Adair describes these types of vision as “stretching, but possible.”

• Is your vision the starting point from which you work backward? Good leaders are adept at connecting the dots; they start with the vision they want to achieve and deconstruct their dream in order to create a plan for achieving it. The more clear and detailed the plan, the more the vision seems possible to the followers.

• Does your vision have purpose? The imagined future must mean something to the leader, the team members, and the organization at large for it to be effective. Change for the sake of change – or change that’s undertaken without its benefits being made clear to the team - is futile.

• Is your vision adaptable? The best leaders are able to think on the fly and make adjustments to their plans as necessary. While you must be committed to your vision, you also must have the flexibility to revamp your plan, to make changes to your vision, and possibly to abandon it altogether if it ceases to serve the needs of your organization.

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