What Does it Take to Be a Visionary Leader?

What Does it Take to Be a Visionary Leader?   OK, so I admit the title may be misleading.  I'm fairly certain that if ANY leader isn't visionary they are not really a leader.  To me that is one of the primary separations between leadership and management. Leaders are visionary, managers don't necessarily have to be. Leaders need to be able to consider future needs and potential problems as one of their primary functions.
Nonetheless, Brian Tracy (SuccessNet Online) suggests there are "Seven Qualities of Visionary Leadership."

1. Leaders inspire others because they are inspired themselves. They are excited about the possibility of creating an exciting future for themselves. They get up every morning and they see every effort they make as part of a great plan to accomplish something wonderful with their lives.


2. Leaders are optimistic. They see opportunities in everything that happens, positive or negative. They look for the good in every situation and in every person. They seek the valuable lessons contained in every problem or setback. They never experience "failures;" instead, they write them off as "learning experiences."


3. Leaders have a sense of meaning and purpose in each area of their lives. They have clear, written goals and plans they work on every day. Leaders are clear about where they are going and what they will have to do to get there. Their behavior is purposeful and goal-directed. As a result, they accomplish five and ten times as much as the average person who operates from day to day with little concern about the future.


4. Leaders accept personal responsibility. Leaders never complain, never explain. Instead of making excuses, they make progress. Whenever they have a set-back or difficulty, they repeat to themselves, "I am responsible! I am responsible! I am responsible!"


5. Leaders see themselves as victors over circumstances rather than victims of circumstances. They don't criticize or blame others when something goes wrong. Instead, they focus on the solution.


6. Leaders are action-oriented. They are constantly in motion. They try something, and then something else, and then something else again. They never give up.


7. Leaders have integrity. They tell the truth at all times. They live in truth with themselves, and they live in truth with others.

This is certainly a good list. I would say it is a good list for leaders, period.  I remain convinced that being visionary is a significant trait of good leaders. I am not convinced that "visionary" leadership is a new, separate, model