Visionary Leadership — and How Not To Bungle It: The Case of Emperor Maximilian

There’s a razor-thin line between far-sighted leadership and fanciful folly, where visionary leaders in business, politics, and society strive for deep change but aren’t always successful. Some don’t even walk out alive.

Few things in business are as precious today as a visionary leader — someone who sees that incredible things are possible, who can convince others that such a dream is achievable, and who works tirelessly with others, often with a dash of personal genius, to find a way.

Being “visionary” is not an easy attribute to have. Even now.

Despite living in such a technological era, we’re ironically more aware of the obstacles to achieving large-scale transformations in business and society. Perhaps it’s more difficult now — or perhaps we’re just more realistic and, therefore, skeptical about attempts to reinvent the world.

Nevertheless, there are instances of people pushing onward.

Today’s visionary leaders

Elon Musk is a good case in point — even if tarnished by his awful personal politics, tyrannical treatment of employees, inability to keep shut, and deficiencies as a day-to-day manager. (Proving two things: that you can be extraordinary as a visionary but terrible in the…