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Pairing Visionary and Operational Leadership
“Leaders who can provide both operational and visionary leadership are a rare but special breed. When you find one, get on their bus and stay on it for as long as you can. It will be an incredible trip.
It is also the case that you can pair visionary leadership with operational leadership and I have seen that model work very well for long periods of time. Most commonly, the visionary leader is “in charge” and the operational leader runs the business on a day to day period.”
from a recent blog by Fred Wilson: “The Vision Thing”
Fred Wilson is one of the most successful investors of recent decades in early stage and growth companies. In my much more limited way, I have been involved with many companies at similar stages. In a recent blog he has highlighted what, to me, is a simple truth.
Early stage and start up businesses absolutely need founders who are Visionary leaders, but as they grow, the also absolutely need Operational leadership.
I have seen many businesses fall down when a founder with a true gift for visionary leadership has failed to bring in an operational leader early enough.
I also agree with Fred that, where you can find a leader who is really strong in both operational and visionary leadership, then they are a rare gem and to…
