Visionary capacity is a key asset of leadership. Companies must be able to anticipate changes that are about to happen and react accordingly to get ahead of others. But how exactly to do that, how to anticipate what the future will bring?
According to Rob-Jan de Jong and his book Anticipate we can grow our ability to anticipate and foresee what will happen and how the situation will evolve. Rob-Jan de Jong is an international leadership consultant and one of five faculty members in Wharton's "Global Strategic Leadership" executive program. According to him, there are two elements of every compelling vision, the unconventionality and its connection to a noble cause. You need to apply your imagination to a current trend, then craft your vision by contemplating the possible impacts of change.
Adaption to current changes
A vision must be rational, but still compelling and inspirational enough to get people emotionally connected to it. To be able to notice and anticipate future conditions you must be open-minded, listening and playful. You must understand the implications of any changes you see taking place right now. Your anticipations of future developments are a framework for your vision.
Method of FuturePriming
Try to pick a current trend, than use your imagination and acumen and try to articulate a related headline that may be seen in 3-5 years from now. That is what the author of the book calls FuturePriming. It is about increasing your awareness and tracing hidden, peripheral indications. Then you try to imagine an event or an action that clearly shows or embodies the possible change. The idea is to formulate a strong, emotionally impressive, catchy vision.
Your headline must be concrete
The author gives us an example of such a headline and vision: “DNA Profile Taken into Account in Health Insurance Pricing.” It is easy to remember and you will recall it immediately when you notice news on a similar topic.
Kniha
DE JONG, Rob-Jan: Anticipate: The Art of Leading by Looking Ahead, New York: AMACOM, 2015. 288 p.
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