How To Date Visionaries In The Business World: With Adam Kaplan
Have you ever heard of the visionary and integrator combination? The theory goes something like this: in a business setting, there are two types of people. One is the entrepreneurial visionary who builds an idea from scratch. The other is the hardworking integrator who takes that idea and executes it in a feasible way. When put together, the two become an almost unstoppable pair, leading to business results and organizational success. Think of it like rocket fuel: when the right team gets put together, business explodes upward.
But how do integrators find a great visionary to work with? And how do visionaries discover integrators that understand their goals and dreams? Moreover, is it possible to test-pilot a visionary and integrator relationship before a significant amount of money is on the line?
To find out, we need to first look at what visionaries and integrators really are. Then we can determine the best ways for them to work together and understand each other — before committing to a long-term partnership.
Who is the visionary in your business?
Sometimes, visionaries can be found within your own office walls. Trying to spot yours? Visionaries are the go-getters and forward-thinkers in an organization. They tend to be quick starters, salespeople, extroverts and “big ideas” people. As the name suggests, a visionary can quickly envision an entire plan and pitch it to the team with efficiency and ease. Many of them are self-starters who dream of becoming their own bosses someday.
Looking to partner with a visionary business? Outside of your organization, visionary groups should exude all of the above qualities and more. An agency committed to bringing you new ideas, concepts and creative solutions will help you flesh out the visionary side of your business in new and exciting ways.
What does a visionary do?
A visionary is the one who holds countless ideas in the palm of their hand. If something doesn’t work, a visionary doesn’t get discouraged — they move onto the next challenge with vigor and purpose. Visionaries develop ideas that form the foundation of a business. They also generate creative solutions that other businesses use to advance their own initiatives. As opposed to a more process-oriented business, a visionary agency is ideas-heavy, and has plenty of creative directors to go around.
Who is an integrator in your business?
Within your business, integrators are akin to detectives. They’re the people in your office who handle projects from start to finish and make sure no ball gets dropped. Integrators are fact finders with impeccable follow-through, attention to detail and strong execution skills. They bring systems and processes to creative ideas, turning what might otherwise be a vibrant daydream into a powerful reality.
Outside of your organization, a great integrator might look like a strategic planning organization committed to properly executing your ideas. A strong integrator will bring every idea to its fullest potential by reducing cost, speeding up delivery, smoothing out workflow processes and improving operational efficiency.
What does an integrator do?
An integrator in a business setting is often responsible for carrying out the plan a visionary develops. They take charge of the financial effort and manpower necessary to make plans come to life. Integrators help visionary business owners develop plans, create systems and engage in better project management. A great integrator will help a visionary feel less overwhelmed by day-to-day operations, allowing them to continue to tackle problems with creative solutions.
How coaching can help you find the right visionary or integrator
You may already know if you’re a visionary or an integrator. If you do, you’re probably looking for your other half — the planner to your prospector, or the ideator to your project manager. How do you go about finding that person?
It might surprise you, but the answer is coaching. Why? Because before you can understand who you should work with, you need to know how you work. What are your struggles and talents as a leader? What do you bring to the table? And are you really the visionary or integrator you think you are? Working with a certified coach can help uncover your own natural tendencies and processes, allowing you to assess more clearly what you need in a partner.
On top of that, a great coach might challenge your notions about your role in an organization. Are you really unfit to lead a business just because you’re an integrator? And are you truly incapable of executing a plan just because you came up with it? The coaching process will shine a light on your real strengths and weaknesses, instead of the ones you may perceive.
Lastly, coaching can show you how to test-pilot a visionary-integrator relationship before you cement one in stone. Instead of signing up with an agency that’s a bad fit, it pays to come up with small scale strategies to understand your potential partner before diving in deep with them. Coaches know this, and they’ll help you navigate that process, too.
Visionaries and integrators alike: what are you waiting for? Discover your own unique workstyle now — if you’re even an ounce curious, give us a visit to learn more.
To learn more about how to get investors on board, check out this episode we did with Carrie Peele.