Leadership is more than the “now”

Leadership is more than the “now”. 

It must be about the future!

We have all heard it – “leaders have vision!”

Arguably, developing others and influence are strong parallels but vision, or the lack of, differentiates leaders – or it should. 

Borrowing from a Cisco advertisement, “Tomorrow starts here” is a great first step of a significant role of leadership – describing a preferred future. 

Being provocative, leading for the moment is not leading at all.  Rather, it is maintaining and more or less a function of managing.  Whereas, leading for the future is defining as well as describing a preferred future in such a way that it compels others to see it, want it, own it, and be a part of doing it.

Preferred future cannot be limited to a picture with today’s issues, problems, or challenges solved.  Rather, preferred future answers a critical question, “What does our work look like completed?”  It requires examining the “mission” and describing the mission accomplished.  It is not about the “how” but clearly articulated “what” and “why”.

I suggest that one reason preferred future is absent from leadership is rather simple not profound.  Time and intentional use of time to invest in conversations about preferred future though important is not valued, as it should.

Vividly, I recall Dr. Carl Glickman asking, “As a nation, why do we celebrate the 4^th of July?”  Though obvious to many, it is a day that we as nation review as well as reflect on the principles of our foundation – why we are a nation.  I believe we also think about where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re headed as a nation.

I think preferred future is more that a day a year.  It is more than a workshop, in-service, or meeting.  Defining and describing the work completed – mission accomplished must be ongoing.  The oft-cited conversation between the Cheshire Cat and Alice in Wonderland, “if you don’t know where you’re going any road will do” rings truer today than ever.

In a time of sound bytes, 30-second attention spans, and ubiquitous connectivity making time to revisit, reflect, and review the “what” and “why” of where we are going seems to me to be critical. 

Again, leadership is about the future. 

When was the last time you intentionally described for others the future you are trying to create?