Seven Signs of Visionary Leaders

By Kamran Akbarzadeh Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5716847

If there are a bunch of people in a room and you are asked to identify those who are visionary  what would you do? Would you talk to each person individually to find out who is visionary and  who is not? Would you assign them some tasks in order to watch them and identify the visionary  ones? Would you divide them in groups and observe which ones act as visionary leaders?  Visionary leaders have some signs that make them stand out from the rest of the crowd.  Following are 7 signs of visionaries.

They are imaginative
Visionary people can visualize things easily. When you talk to visionary leaders you can  recognize them from the rest of the crowd because of their imagination. Visionaries can imagine  future possibilities in their minds and then explain what they have imagined clearly. They  imagine things that others cannot imagine. Through their imagination they can draw future  possibilities for their organization.

They are big-picture oriented
You can recognize visionaries by their ability to see the big picture. In a group of people,  visionary ones talk about the big picture and how various factors link together to create that  picture. They see the whole process and not a single step.  Since visionary leaders are big-picture oriented, they are not attached. They are not worried  about why this happened and why that did not happen. They enjoy the whole process. They are  patient. They see all the links in the big picture and therefore they do not blame others.

They are focused and present
When you are in presence of a true visionary, you can feel their power. Visionaries are powerful  because they are focused and present. In other words, focus and presence create power. Since visionaries are present and focused, you can connect with them when they talk about what  they have in mind, when they teach you something, or when they perform a task. People are  more drawn to those who are focused and present. That is why visionaries have more followers.

They are open minded and fan of new ideas 
Visionaries have open minds. They do not limit themselves to their own thoughts and ideas.  When you talk to a visionary leader, he or she is open to what you talk about and listens to your  ideas and thoughts attentively.One thing that differentiates visionary leaders from other open minded people is that visionaries  tell you their expectations upfront. They give you a big picture of what they have in mind. Then  they let you be creative and come up with new ideas and thoughts on how to achieve that vision.  They encourage you to be as creative as possible and never afraid of presenting your so called  silly ideas.

They are positive energizers
Another sign of true visionaries is their positive attitude. Since visionaries are passionate about  and connected with their vision, their positive energy level is typically high. As such, they act as  positive energizers; that is, they recharge people with positive energy. Due to their positive attitude, true visionaries are surrounded by positive people who are willing  to help them achieve a common vision.

They are never afraid of failures
As mentioned earlier, true visionaries see what others cannot see. They see the big picture. They  see the links among different events. They see possible obstacles. They know there would be  challenges along the way. They know they might have temporary setbacks. But they also know  the great value of fulfilling the vision. Therefore, true visionaries never give up. They are not  afraid of failures because they know that failures are part of the process as well. In a group of leaders, true visionaries can be recognized with their tendency towards taking risks  and transforming those risks to opportunities. Their positive approach and their focus on the  vision help them not be afraid of failures. Such leaders are willing to discover new paths and  become searchlights for others. This is the secret of their success.

They share and communicate the dream/vision
One of the big signs of visionaries is their willingness for sharing their vision with the world.  They don't keep it to themselves because they know that they cannot get to the destination alone.  They need others for filling the gaps and that is why they communicate their vision and dreams  with others to attract the right people. If you have these signs, I congratulate you for being a visionary leader. If you don't have some of  these signs, you can take the lead and improve your skills toward becoming a fully visionary  leader.

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Seven Signs of Visionary Leaders

What Your Sign Should Say: Creating Your Message

By Kara Klein
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5738849

One of the most obviously important parts of your custom outdoor sign is what is says. But the  message you choose to put on your sign is vital for more reasons than you think. The words you  put on your signage are more than just words; they're an important design element. The curvy  shapes and lines of each letter create word forms which utilize valuable space within the design.  You don't want your sign to be ignored by passing cars or left unread by those who wander by.  One of the biggest design mistakes we see is bad wording, and an ineffective sign could very  well lose you business. Once you choose the right message to put on your new outdoor sign,  you'll be on the right track!

Be obvious
Sure, it seems obvious. Your store is called Tina's, so that's what you're putting on your business  sign. But wait. Anyone who has never been to Tina's before won't feel a spark of interest when  they read your sign because they don't know what Tina's is. Is it a bakery? A jewelry store? A  carpentry shop specializing in wooden gnomes? There's no way of knowing. Your sign needs to  convey exactly what type of business you run because it may not be as obvious as you think.  Tina's Fine Clothing is a more appropriate message for the sign. Perhaps Tina's will be in big  block letters on top and Fine Clothing will be in smaller letters underneath. This way, your  marketing is effective and the name of your shop has not been changed.

Be clear
Being too joke-y or subtle with the message on your outdoor business sign can make it  confusing. Remember that wooden gnome carpentry shop? What if the sign read "Tina's Gnomes  - You Gnow It!" Believe it or not, some people might find that funny and clever! But if your  passing driver is not one of those people - or can't decipher the joke, you've probably just lost a  customer. Clear and simple is the best way to go

3 ½ Seconds
No, this isn't the title of a new action movie. 3 ½ seconds is about how long a passing motorist  looks at your outdoor sign. That doesn't give you much time. They key is to make your sign  easily readable in that small window of time. Overcrowding your sign with too many lines of  text will make it difficult to read. Using colors that blend together will make for a frustrated  reader so make sure your text is in a color that contrasts with the background so reading your  message is easy on the eyes.


Less is More
You now know that your custom outdoor signage shouldn't have too much text burying your  message. But how much is too much? Try to use as few words as possible. The magic number is  seven; so don't use more words than that. Remember, outdoor signs are meant to attract  customers and spark an interest in them. You don't need to explain everything about your  business up front - there's plenty of room for more signs once your target audience is interested  enough to pull in and walk inside. Because of this, you want your message to be as pithy as  possible. Don't say anything that isn't absolutely necessary. Tina's Bakery: Pastries and Baked  Goods is not an efficient message. The name of the shop, Tina's Bakery, tells us that there will be  pastries and baked goods inside, so the second line is unnecessary. For that matter, pastries are baked goods so the second line itself is redundant. A message such as Tina's Bakery: Always  Organic is much more effective. Nothing is repeated and the most important feature of the  business is stated.

You know the message on your outdoor business sign is important, and now you know just how  much. Keep it simple, clear and obvious and your sign will bring in the target audience you're  after.


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What Your Sign Should Say: Creating Your Message

Less is Usually More

There are many different components to signs, including size, color, design and verbiage. Since every sign serves a unique purpose, these elements need to be researched on a case-by-case basis; there’s no cookie-cutter right or wrong, but there are some general guidelines with respect to the words that appear on your signs.

In most cases, it’s best to get your message across in as few words as possible. Depending on the location of your sign, people may only have a moment to glance at it, so including a bunch of copy, even if it’s large, is usually a mistake.

Think about the power of a sign you see every day that has only one word on it: STOP. While you’ll likely need a bit more copy than that, always err on the side of brevity.

You also need to choose your words wisely. Go for simple rather than complex and short rather than long, and don’t use “word play” unless you’re totally certain anyone who looks at your sign will get it. The last thing you want to do is over-complicate things by being so cute with words that you lose much of your audience.

You may think you know what you want to say on your sign, but don’t discount the value of working with a sign professional to ensure your message is clear, concise and easily read.

Less is Usually More

Thinking Green: What To Do With Old Signs

Some signs are intended to be permanent, but others are strictly temporary. In either case, you may find yourself faced with figuring out how to dispose of signs you no longer need in the greenest way possible.

Recycling is certainly an option for many types of signs. You may be able to place signs made from aluminum, cardboard and most plastics in your curbside recycling bin…but check your city’s guidelines if you have any question about whether a sign is recyclable. If you don’t have curbside pickup, find the nearest recycling center at Earth911.com.

What about vinyl banners? Once they’ve served their purpose, you really shouldn’t throw them away, since they take a long time to break down in a landfill. As an alternative, think about doing something creative with your old vinyl banners:

• Use them as tarps for lawn maintenance or covering building materials
• Donate them to a school to use as a tarp for arts and crafts
• Repurpose them, with a little sewing work, into reusable and study bags for lawn clippings or laundry, or weatherproof outdoor cushions or ground seats

Think green before you merely toss signs you no longer need in the trash.

Thinking Green: What To Do With Old Signs

A Sign of Strong Marketing

When businesses plan a marketing strategy, they usually focus on things like advertising, collateral, social media, and getting out in the community at trade shows and networking events to spread the word about their products and services. Signage, which should be a critical component to any marketing strategy, is often not considered in this respect.

Your signage not only directs customers to your location; it sets the tone for your business, and should support the brand identity you’re trying so hard to establish and maintain. The intelligent use of color, fonts and design can result in signage that enhances your marketing efforts; you should be putting as much thought into what your signs say and how they look as you do into developing any other marketing element.

Because signage is so important to your business, we suggest you work with a sign professional, someone who can offer guidance and suggestions in addition to having the capability to produce the finished product. And, the next time you think about embarking on a new marketing strategy, think about whether your signage needs to enhanced or updated as part of the plan.

A Sign of Strong Marketing

Magnetics vs Vehicle Graphics

Both vehicle graphics (vinyl that is applied directly to the vehicle) and magnetic signs (graphics that are magnetically held to the side of the vehicle) are great ways to advertise your business as you drive from here to there during the course of your business day. Vehicle graphics stay on your truck or van permanently (or until you peel them off), whereas magnetic signs come on and off as you like.

Magnetic signs allow you to conduct business during the day, and not when it's after hours. They are obviously easy to change, so your business can be a pet sitting business in the morning, and switch to computer sales and service by the afternoon. That's the convenience of magnetics.

Here are three reasons why you may just go ahead and opt for vehicle graphics:

*More grown up and professional in appearance, vehicle graphics say "I've arrived" to your business prospects and existing clients.

* You have greater size options for your lettering. Magnetic sign material is restricted in one direction to 24" maximum. Vehicle graphics can cover just a small part, or all of your vehicle, turning it into a giant billboard.

*Vehicle graphics are easier to maintain. In fact, all you have to do is wash your car occasionally and the graphics will clean up nicely. Magnetic signs need to be cleaned more carefully (in a sink of soapy water is good) or else road sand, salt and dirt collects behind them, damaging the paint on your vehicle, and potentially lifting them from the car (which means you can lose them as you drive down the highway).

Not to malign magnetic signs--they have their place on vehicles, but maybe you should give vehicle graphics greater consideration.

Magnetics vs Vehicle Graphics

A-Frames Are A-OK

With so much emphasis being given to new technologies, sometimes it’s easy to forget that the tried-and-true still has a lot of value. Such is the case regarding A-Frame signs, which have been used by businesses to drive foot traffic for years...and with good reason: they’re an affordable and almost surefire way to get noticed. Because the message is displayed on both the front and back, motorists and pedestrians will see it whether they’re “coming or going.”

An A-Frame is a folding sign with the hinges on the top and a handle between them. It can be stored flat, so it takes up minimal space, and when you’re ready to use it, you simply carry it by the handle and unfold it. A-Frames are very durable and can withstand a surprising amount of stress from weather or heavy traffic. They’re usually made from plastic, with the actual graphics printed on the front, but there are many variations, including an interchangeable front piece that allows graphics to be altered on demand, something that works great for businesses that want to advertise daily or weekly specials.

Innovation is a wonderful thing…but never discount sign options that have proven their value time after time.

A-Frames Are A-OK