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Transforming Lives Through Visionary Leadership 1 Running head: TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH VISIONARY LEADERSHIP 1 Oprah Winfrey – Transforming Lives Through Visionary Leadership DaNika Robinson Virginia Commonwealth University EDLP715 Principles of Professional Writing I TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH VISIONARY LEADERSHIP 2 Oprah Winfrey – Transforming Lives Through Visionary Leadership Oprah Winfrey, a television icon and visionary leader, has successfully inspired others through her establishment of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, Oprah’s Angel Network, and the Oprah Winfrey Network. These initiatives all began with Oprah’s desire to change the world that she lived in. “Oprah is a powerhouse of a woman who has put her talents, efforts, celebrity and money into shining the spotlight onto those throughout the world who are less advantaged than she, acting to help lift them from that situation—thereby proving beyond a doubt that one woman can indeed change the world” (“Why We Honor Her”, n.d., para. 4). Oprah’s accomplishments are impressive considering the challenges she faced during her childhood. Oprah was born in rural Mississippi in 1954. At an early age, she experienced parental hardships from her unwed, teenaged parents. While living with her mother, Oprah was the victim of sexual abuse perpetrated by some of her male relatives. As a result, Oprah ran away from home and eventually went to live with her strict father. She became pregnant at 14 but the premature baby died shortly after birth. After graduating high school, Oprah moved to Baltimore and became a television news anchor. She even hosted a talk show and gradually became nationally recognized through these avenues. Because of her national recognition, Oprah was asked to start a talk show in Chicago, which successfully ran for 25 seasons. Notwithstanding the obstacles she faced early in her life, Oprah overcame them all through her many successes and she used her platform to encourage others that they, too, can do the same. She had many visions and she was willing to do what it took to see those visions realized. TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH VISIONARY LEADERSHIP 3 Visionary Leadership According to Hirzel (2003), a leader is a person who empowers others to achieve their personal best. Through this act of empowerment, the leader creates a legacy that extends beyond their lifetime. Scholars have researched many styles of leadership, one being that of a visionary leader. Visionary leaders must be able to transform the lives of others through their leadership. These types of leaders influence and motivate their followers through inspiration, persuasive communication, optimism, and risk taking (Belcher, 2015; Patrick, n.d.; Tracy, n.d.; and Stam, van Knippenberg, & Wisse, 2009; and Venus, Stam, and van Kippenherg, 2013). “A vision describes the ideal future that the leader wants to create” (Kirkpatrick, 2004, p. 1615). Visionary leaders are able to see what they want to accomplish even if those around them do not understand how the vision will be realized. Visionary leaders are driven by their passion and vision first and then by the mission for achieving the necessary goals and objectives which “links the present to the future” (Rao, 2015, p. 3). Although visionary leaders are optimistic that their vision will come to fruition, they must be prepared for obstacles and challenges that may hinder the full realization of the vision by their deadline. The ability to communicate a vision and inspire others to buy into the vision is key; however, taking risks and remaining optimistic does not come easy. Visionary leaders realize that having a vision does not remove obstacles and challenges that may hinder the realization of their goals. Even though leaders face obstacles, their vision keeps them grounded while serving as the launching pad from which they propel their initiatives. In times of despair, a visionary leader can go back to their core beliefs, the root of why they started their initiative. Going back to that core belief will keep the visionary leader focused on TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH VISIONARY LEADERSHIP 4 the end result rather than being focused on the uncertainties of their present situation. It is during these times that the visionary leader will have to be comfortable in taking risks. Kirkpatrick (2004) suggests that taking risks helps breed innovation and creativity while eliminating assumptions. Kirkpatrick (2004) also notes that, although visionary leaders appear to be “engaging in unconventional behaviors” it is not as if they are entering into an initiative blindly. Instead, they are typically “evaluating all options” (Kirkpatrick, 2004, p. 1617). There are times when followers do not understand why a leader is approaching a particular situation in a certain manner. It is during those times that followers may feel that the leader is making a major sacrifice but, to the leader, there is no sacrifice because the leader is “entirely focused on pursuing the vision” (Kirkpatrick, 2004, p. 1617). As long as the leader is able to provide open and consistent communication to the followers, there will continue to be buy-in, even during the risk-taking process. A visionary leader must be able to continuously communicate to their followers that the initiative they are embarking upon is “valid and worthwhile” (Stam et al, 2009, p. 500). According to Stam et al (2009), a leader’s ability to communicate the vision is a measure of leader effectiveness. In being able to communicate the vision and overcome obstacles, a visionary leader must remain optimistic that the vision will come to fruition and inspire their followers to believe the same. Even in moments when it seems that the vision will not be realized, the visionary leader must never give up hope. “Most visions are not intended to be fully achievable on a planned-out timetable; rather, they are intended to be pursued or worked toward on a daily basis over the long term” (Kirkpatrick, 2004, p. 1615). Visionary leaders must continue to believe in the vision and make adjustments where necessary. Oprah Winfrey had a TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH VISIONARY LEADERSHIP 5 vision for her initiatives and, when obstacles presented themselves, she made adjustments that were in the best interests of the organizations she established. Oprah’s Angel Network In 1997, Oprah’s Angel Network began as an idea for people across the world to donate their spare change in order to enhance their communities and global initiatives, an idea she had received from one of her television talk show guests (“Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network to Dissolve,” 2010). As a visionary leader, Oprah personally gave away millions of dollars over the years and inspired everyday people to give through her development of Oprah’s Angel Network (Hirzel, 2003; “Oprah’s Angel,” n.d.). With this initial vision, Oprah raised $3.5 million in order to create college scholarships for underprivileged students (“Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network to Dissolve,” 2010). Oprah’s viewers joined in with her and not only made financial gifts in support of her vision but also donated their time (“Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network to Dissolve,” 2010). Oprah’s persuasive communication inspired many people to assist the Habitat for Humanity in building over 200 new homes (Fry, n.d.). A lot was accomplished under Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network which began from a simple vision, donating spare change. Oprah’s Angel Network ceased operations in 2010 because Oprah shifted her vision to focus on new challenges (“Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network to Dissolve,” 2010). Over the twelve years of its operation, Oprah’s Angel Network successfully raised more than $80 million, built schools in many countries, provided necessary supplies for underprivileged children across the world, and built homes after major storms such as hurricanes Katrina and Rita (“Oprah’s Angel,” n.d. and “Oprah Winfrey’s Angel Network to Dissolve,” 2010). These many accomplishments confirm the realization of Oprah’s vision to encourage others to give to initiatives that would impact the world (Said, 2013). This vision transformed many lives through TRANSFORMING LIVES THROUGH VISIONARY LEADERSHIP 6 the initial concept of giving spare change resulting in global social changes that affected the world and not just one continent. Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls In 2000, Oprah Winfrey had a conversation with the former president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, about building a South African school for girls (Forbes, 2012 and “About The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls,” n.d., para. 2). Oprah stated, “I realized that the only way to create long-term improvement and empowerment, and literally change the trajectory of somebody’s life, is through education” (Forbes, 2012, p. 50). She also stated, “When you're changing a girl’s life it is not just that life. You start to affect a family, a community, a nation” (“About The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls,” n.d., para. 1). Oprah was passionate about transforming the lives of the underprivileged South African girls so that they could become leaders within their country. This vision inspired Oprah to establish the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in 2007. Oprah knowingly took a risk and began communicating this vision for a leadership academy to other stakeholders (“About The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls,” n.d., para. 2). She personally contributed millions of dollars to this initiative and, in doing so, inspired others to contribute (“About The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls,” n.d., para. 3). Donations for the Academy totaled more than $40 million (“About The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls,” n.d., para. 3). Oprah’s persuasive communication continues to inspire donors to give to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy Foundation, which provides for the operating expenses for the Academy (About The Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls,” n.d., para.
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