Make It Rain: Visionary and Integrator, Two Forces in the Same Storm
When I was a kid, we’d count the seconds between lightning and thunder. One one-thousand… two one-thousand…—then BOOM. The thunder would shake the whole neighborhood, a powerful reminder that lightning and thunder always come together.
That same concept hit me again when I read Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters. The book describes the powerful partnership between the Visionary and the Integrator in an EOS® organization.
And the metaphor couldn’t be more perfect: the Visionary is lightning. The Integrator is thunder.
The Visionary: Lightning in a Bottle
Visionaries move fast. They’re big-picture thinkers. Their brilliance flashes across the sky—illuminating the path, sparking excitement, and energizing teams. But like lightning, they’re high above the ground—quick, intense, sometimes unpredictable.
They generate ideas, create momentum, and envision the future.
The Integrator: The Thunder That Follows
Integrators operate differently. They are grounded, steady, and powerful. Like thunder, they make sure everyone feels the vision. They bring clarity, structure, and accountability. Their presence is deep, resonant, and necessary for follow-through.
They lead, manage, and hold the team accountable—turning vision into traction.
A Perfect Storm: Complementary, Not Competitive
Too many organizations view the Visionary-Integrator relationship through a hierarchy: Who’s in charge? Who reports to whom? But that thinking misses the point.
Visionaries and Integrators aren’t stacked vertically. They are complementary forces. Together, they create the conditions for growth, culture, and results.
One illuminates the future. The other grounds it in reality. Neither is complete without the other.
Real-World Application
When I coach leadership teams, I often see conflict between Visionary and Integrator roles. Once they stop viewing the relationship as adversarial—and start seeing it as symbiotic—something shifts.
They begin to:
- Respect each other’s strengths
- Acknowledge their own limitations
- Collaborate more effectively
- Lead with greater impact
When that shift happens, teams accelerate. Execution improves. Alignment locks in. Suddenly, they’re not just making noise—they’re making rain.
Final Thought: Let’s Make It Rain
Visionary and Integrator are like thunder and lightning—two forces in the same storm. Each powerful on their own, but unstoppable when working in harmony.
So let’s bring the storm. Let’s make some rain.
