The Female Leader. Sonja Becker

      Visionaries love adventure. They really do let themselves be led by their sense of curiosity.

       Because “everything begins with curiosity”, as the writer Gary Hoover said. Heidi Klum is an example of this type. A genuine mountain girl without being born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she had the idea of making something of herself in New York after winning a model competition. Today she is one of the most sought-after women in the world: a supermodel, a multi-millionairess and married to a pop star. She has also published a book. And among the rules you have to follow on the way to becoming a world star is her motto: “Follow your sense of curiosity.”

      Visionaries like entering unknown territory for their life. They discover the possibilities. They never ask “why?” but “why not?” They love the chaos that often accompanies the start up of a company. Every company starts with a vision. Behind every logo of a famous brand name lies a big idea of an individual person, who has realized this vision.

      Like Steve Jobs, who has rescued his own former company Apple thanks to unbelievable ideas. Once the computers were perfect child’s play to operate, he saw what was missing: sex. The apple is after all the symbol of temptation. Meanwhile the new sexy Apple machines have become status symbols. In addition, Apple’s “iPod” has revolutionized the whole music industry because it recognized the market potential of digital music which was seen as being half criminal by the complaining industry and made mp3 downloads respectable. Jobs didn’t invent it, but he could see it.

      Visionaries play an important role in the start-up phase of a business in particular. They are the captains of the ship and see the new continent over the horizon. They set the course even if there is no navigation chart. They see more than others. Imagination and artistic talent are the midwives of a new business idea.

      And these qualities lie in the very nature of visionaries. But when they have to manage complex projects, the ship begins to veer off course. In the worst case the captain’s name is Ahab, and the crew jump overboard. Because visionaries are good at dealing with contradictions their method of working often produces witty results. Consistency they hold to be a sign of mediocrity. Instead they use their breadth of vision to change the direction of thought.

      Most visionaries are driven by the ideal of a wonderful new world. They want to go into the service industry for humanity to become more just or more humane as much as for their personal aims. Often they are regarded as mad. Just as once there were machine wreckers who held the sowing machine to be an affront in the eyes of God, or who railed against washing machines in the past, there was hardly anyone thirty years ago who could imagine that computers would be affordable for everyone, that they could be so large or so small, could fit comfortably on a table, and be so simple that children could use them, or that as much data as was stored on those funny winding machines of a size to fit a skyscraper could be stored on a microchip. Even the founder of IBM estimated at the time that the number of computers needed in the world would be between five and ten.

      Vision is a form of creative destruction. It opens up doors into new worlds, whereby it mutates into other systems, as the example of Apple shows. Views of the world disintegrate, things change fundamentally, familiar patterns break up, and new realities emerge.

      When a culture protects itself against visionary ideas – which is entirely natural – visionaries run the danger of losing the thread. When visionaries are prevented from doing their own thing, they are quick to regard other people as obstacles, or they give in to lazy compromises in order to achieve their aim. Of the three types, the visionary is the most vulnerable, standing at the end with empty hands because she has fallen in love with her ideas or with herself too much. She can be so idealistic that she scares other people away.

      Visionaries in the positive sense are extremely curious about what concerns others and infect them with their creativity. Economic visionaries can recognize patterns and requirements in the market that others can’t. Their ideas are as clear as they are mad. This arouses sympathy in many, while others laugh at it. As revenge they roll up their sleeves and turn their ideas into reality. They are entrancing in the true sense of the word, and are able to influence a lot of people and carry them along by their enthusiasm. Only they need people who can bring them down to earth: promoters and managers above all.

      TYPE B: THE PROMOTER

      In the Trinity you would be the “Holy Ghost”. You are one of those who believe both in vision and in people and therefore want to do something for both. You know what you need for that: people who are enthusiastic about new ideas both within the company and out there in the market. For this you take the initiative yourself.

      When you are inspired you immediately start up a campaign and find people who are also enthusiastic. You are able to bond with people, and do it with a feeling for the little delicate things in life and an empathy that often astonishes your fellow human beings. You are able to head teams because you like to set a good example.

      Promoters are gregarious animals and geniuses at getting other people interested in something, establishing contacts and building networks. The world gets wind of an idea or a product through them alone. They are comparatively extrovert, like people, are charming, witty and have star qualities as entertainers.

      You have a fine sense of what is appropriate: the right design, the people who understand the product or the service and fit into the company. You attract others magnetically. And once you believe in something, you can present it creditably. Your passion is to be the bringer of good news. Just as in sales. Thanks to your empathy and human warmth you deliver the right product to the right man or the right woman. You don’t put pressure on people who don’t need the product, but find the people for whom the product is suitable. You do the same in the office. Your inspiration keeps the team in good shape. Your firm belief in people is the energy which keeps the business machine running, because you enjoy doing things for others.

      Promoters are movers and shakers. They turn dreams into deeds. They act first and think later. While visionaries are dreaming of what the human race needs, they are already on the phone, and are totally committed.

      Where others are regularly shy, they first begin to glow, and so does the email box, the telephone and the fax machine. They want to reach people and sell. That is their sense of achievement. Contact with other people is their universe. If there are only genuine promoters in the marketing department the firm makes a profit and has fun doing it.

      Promoters are curious about people, are born communicators, and are always on top of things. They know exactly when to put pressure on others or how to give them space to develop. Where many of us fail in personal affairs, they have the right touch for diplomacy, know how to resolve conflicts; and thanks to their knowledge of people also know exactly which candidate would be best for the company. Women are often exceptional promoters, because their ability to communicate and create social order is stamped by evolution.

      When it comes to details, however, promoter types switch off. They leave it to the manager to supervise what works and what doesn’t. But their directness is refreshing and always an enrichment fort he human race. But they would sell their own grandmother once they get going. Their power rides roughshod over every problem and every objection. Many promoters come to recognize at the end of their career that they would have been considerably more successful if they hadn’t changed horses so often. Apart from this handicap, promoters have the greatest career chances. When they spearhead a company it can explode with success.

      The symbiosis of visionaries and promoters often brings astronomical success with it, as for example when brothers are business partners. Just imagine: one discovers, the other sells, all day long, side by side. Most companies have been founded by visionaries. But the world can only be conquered with a promoter. One has a dream and the other believes in the dream. When the ship is ready to be launched, the manager comes on board.

      TYPE C: THE MANAGER

      We have been pulling your leg a bit. In the long run, relaxing and romance can also be a substitute for the stress and strain of your daily life. For most types of manager repress their power