Everyone wants to know how to be a powerful business-transforming leader, but many people assume that hard work is all you need to get there. If there's one thing I've learned in my time as CEO at Idoneus, it's that all that work is only made important by the vision behind it.

Do you just want to run a great business, or are you interested in being a leader who makes a lasting impact on the world? The difference between these two things depends on everything visionary thinking. If you're ready to sharpen your eyesight, keep reading.

Connected: 3 Perspectives of Visionary Leaders

What makes a visionary?

The phrase “leaders lead” comes up often, but what they should lead with often left out. I would argue that it's all about vision. This is what famous entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Henry Ford and Estée Lauder all had in common. That's why we still refer to them and their work decades after starting their business ventures.

Fortunately, as with any thinking strategy, there are muscles that anyone can develop to make themselves stronger in these areas. To check your strength level, consider these visionary values ​​below and whether or not you have applied them:

Sense of purpose:

Purpose is a powerful business tool. We know it can move on land success with employees and that it is closely related to a greater sense of ambition. It is also a central part of visionary thinking.

A true visionary seeks to do more than just make money. They are looking for ways to use their skills and ideas to improve their communities, make a positive impact and ultimately change the world. I often refer to this as “innovation with purpose”. Innovation for its own sake it can be profitable, but real success comes from innovation that is anchored by purpose.

Henry Ford didn't just want to build cars, he wanted to change the way they were made – and in doing so, he managed to change the world.

Looking at the big picture:

A great entrepreneur isn't afraid to get lost in the details, but if you're trying to transform your business approach, you need to be able to step back and see the big picture. It is the duty of a leader to see more than everyone else. Don't be afraid to look.

Here you get a sense of the gaps and the possibility of where you can push yourself and your work further. like THIS entrepreneurship research paper aptly notes, however, imagination is another essential part of business transformation. A true visionary doesn't just see the big picture. They have the imagination to create a better one.

Being committed to the result:

I have spoken BEFORE about the difference between being committed and involved and will reiterate here how important it is to be fully committed to an outcome.

Visionary thinkers not only see what the outcome looks like, but can see their projects through to the end. They are mentally, emotionally and physically committed to doing whatever it takes. This is why they are able to create businesses and build projects that not only succeed, but are also remembered.

Connected: 5 skills every entrepreneur needs to become a visionary leader

How to become a visionary?

You may think that the visionary values ​​discussed are already in your lexicon, but if you're struggling, consider taking the time to develop your own thinking. Here's how:

1. Ask better questions:

It is essential to strategic thinking in every aspect, but asking better questions it is absolutely essential when developing a visionary approach to business. Be curious about questions you haven't asked up to this point and about new voices or ideas you can engage with to expand yourself. Visionaries build their sense of vision by engaging with the world around them. This is what makes them such dynamic leaders and so good at cultivating growth.

2. Prioritize the right values:

I'm not saying you have to be a saint, but I think just approaching anything from the mindset of “I have this idea that I can make millions from” lacks vision. Instead, if you were to say, “I have this idea that can change the world and make it better—and it can make millions,” then you're entering a different realm. Prioritizing the value you can add, not just the dollars you can earn, is what makes one true visionary.

3. Step beyond the crowd:

Don't be afraid to go further with an idea than most. Visionaries see the passing of the crowd and the passing of norms. they see past not. They see the opportunity to transform the assembly line or build the world's best personal computer, and they go for it. That's what makes for the kind of leaders who grace the history books.

Connected: The Ultimate CEO's 7-Step Guide to Visionary Leadership

Are you a visionary? Yes or no, the point is that anyone can be. You just have to adjust your mindset to a the first value reach out and be willing to step back from the world and look at it differently. Practice this as often as you can. Not only will it transform your thinking, it will certainly transform your business.