2012: Focus on the Future to Lead in the Present
By most accounts, 2012 is shaping up to be a year of change and renewal. We are at a very exciting and important point in time when business and economic forces as well as our global society will reach tipping points due to extreme complexity and challenge. Our current systems and processes are outdated, ineffective or ready to break, and they simply won’t carry us into the future.
But uncertainty always has another side. I believe that 2012 presents a prime opportunity to constructively evaluate where we are, consider new points of view and embrace the strategies that will be necessary to succeed in the future.
Leaders may not be able to predict the future, but great leadership will create the future at every level – personally, organizationally, nationally and globally. Now is the time for leaders to adopt new mindsets, develop skills and adapt to different ways of doing business in order to navigate the next several years. Consider integrating these recommendations into the way you think and lead:
- Leave behind outgrown thoughts, outdated viewpoints, past limitations and old grudges;
- Be keenly aware and very clear about what the organization is doing and where it is headed, even in the midst of an environment defined by ambiguity and constant change;
- Step outside your day-to-day role and proactively step inside new and different experiences with an open mind in order to foster new thinking patterns and shape different viewpoints;
- Nurture a culture of curiosity to allow for even more innovation;
- Ask yourself every day what you can do to bring unique and exceptional value to those you serve.
It may seem that in times of change we should hit the gas pedal and speed into the future. But as we move into the New Year, I believe it’s crucial for all leaders to take the time – particularly during times of great change – to reflect on the events of the past, the lessons learned and the wisdom gained.
As I reflect on our experiences at SHAMBAUGH Leadership throughout 2011, I am especially proud of the opportunities we’ve had to speak to and work with national and global leaders, and to advance the Women in Leadership and Learning (WILL) program as it concludes its seventeenth year. As I look to the future, I see SHAMBAUGH as an ongoing thought-leader in developing and coaching the next generation of leaders, guiding C-Suite executives in navigating change and complexity, and working with organizations to achieve high performance cultures and an Integrated Leadership approach.
I invite you to decide now what kind of future you want to create and then begin to ready yourself, your team and your organization. If we at SHAMBAUGH can help you or your organization, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Together, we can create the future.
Regards and best wishes for healthy, happy and prosperous 2012!
Becky Shambaugh
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