Principles of Organizational Behavior, 3rd Edition

16Engage in Visionary Leadership

DAVID A. WALDMAN

Arizona State University

It is often quoted from the Bible that “where there is no vision, the people perish.” While this quote was never meant to depict business or organizations, it certainly applies to effective leadership in the work world. But before I get to visionary leadership in organizations, I want to share a personal experience of visionary leadership that I received from a medical doctor a number of years ago. I was playing tennis with a friend who was much more adept at the sport compared to me, a feat that is not too hard to realize. The individual hit a passing shot that I ran to get to, but the tennis ball went past me. While I was still running and looking toward my friend, the ball had evidently hit a backstop at the end of the court and came straight back in the direction toward which I was running. Without seeing the ball, my right foot stepped on it squarely and twisted in an inward and outward motion. I went down in pain and actually passed out for probably 30 seconds or so.

My friend managed to get me to an emergency room where my ankle got wrapped, and I received crutches. The next day, I went to see an orthopedic specialist, who told me that nothing was broken, but I had a relatively severe sprain. I then proceeded to commiserate and whine about how I was in so much pain and emotional distress, and I just knew that I would never be the same. In other words, I let the doctor know that I felt like my ...