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One thing that must always be on your mind to be atrue leader is having thoughts about the future. What do you plan to achieve?What are your goals? Are they specific? The leader in you must always plan aheadand focus on the significance of the future.

Theleader who refuses to think about the future soon will not have to worry aboutthe responsibility of leadership! Thinking about the future is necessary for anyleader for at least three reasons:

1) Thinking about the future givesthe leader focus.

The future helps a leader determinewhat he/she should do and what he/she should not do! Determining one'sactions by the demands of the day is a sure path to a hectic daily schedule.Leaders should look beyond the busyness of the day into the realm oftomorrow.

2) Thinking about the future allowsfor a proactive response.

While leaders cannot predict thefuture, they can go a long way in creating the future. Leaders don'tawait the future; they create the future.

3) Leaders think about the futurebecause vision resides in the future.

If leadership is defined byinfluence it is determined by vision. Leaders know that the primary actionof a leader is to cast vision. A person who sets direction by only lookingto the past is a great historian but a poor leader. Leaders create thefuture by casting a compelling vision that both aligns with and directs thefuture.

Smart leaders understand thesignificance of the future and take the lead in planning for the future. Leadership and the future are intimately tied together. Leaders should thinkabout the future, because they know that one of the major realms of leadershipis the realm of the future.

THINKING FUTURISTICALLY

Anticipate the future with a positive attitude. Manyleaders have an unhealthy dread of the future - perhaps even a fear of thefuture. Leaders that thrive in the years to come will be those that areself-confident enough to realize that no matter what the future holds they willovercome and triumph. Such confidence is not false hope but rather it is theproduct of proper planning and the development of essential tools thatguarantees a hopeful future.

FUTURESHIFTS

SHIFT #1
From Problem Solving to Problem Predicting

Themajority of leadership is problem solving. Problem solving will continue to bean important task for leaders but a shift is necessary. You must move fromproblem solving to problem predicting. Trained futurist call problem predicting"Non-Linear Extrapolation." Non-Linear Extrapolation means that you don't justlook at the direct results of an action, but that you examine the indirect andunintended consequences of an action.

SHIFT #2
From Specific Planning to Scenario Planning

Most successful leadersare already good planners -- they have to be! The future calls us to go one stepbeyond specific day-to-day planning, as a leader you must move into monthly toeven yearly scenario planning. Scenario planning allows leaders to deal with therapid rate of change occurring in our society by giving them handles forunderstanding what might happen.

SHIFT #3
From Solitary Mind to Master Mind

Information is increasing at an alarming rate. To adjustto the overwhelming attack which information may have, leaders need more thantheir solitary mind - they need a Master Mind. Basically a Master Mind is acollection of multiple people, with different expertise, who come together tofocus on one particular problem. With a Master Mind, the leader doesn't need toknow it all, because he has relationships with experts who do! Collective wisdomis better than a collection of wisdom.

FUTURECHALLENGE

Leaders understand the significance of the future and take the lead in planningfor the future. Thinking about the future and making these three shifts in yourwork habits is an initial step to guaranteeing that the future that will takeplace is the future you desire.