What is a Future-Focused Leader?

The Future of Work landed in our laps in 2020, causing a reexamination of how our modern-day workforce operates. Gartner recently reported that over 80% of leaders surveyed will allow their workforce to work remotely for at least part of the time even after the pandemic reopening. In light of this seemingly inevitable hybrid workforce, nearly a third of respondents reported the biggest challenge will be maintaining corporate culture.

With a new school year mere weeks away, working parents agonize over navigating this next phase. A recent article suggested remote workers should make public commitments about “being available during all normal working hours,” to which I managed not to spew my coffee. Unreasonable expectations in these times are not sustainable. They lead to burnout and will result in a massive talent drain. We are living in a time of forced asynchronous work. Might this be an opportunity to redesign workforce expectations so that they work better for everyone?

I partner with clients who care deeply about their organizational cultures. We explore the mindsets, skills and behaviors that deepen and strengthen culture amidst these turbulent times. We’re looking to develop future-focused leaders. But what does that mean? What qualities and capabilities should we be developing to strengthen our company culture?

1.     Empathy in action. Connecting authentically to what others are experiencing is essential. We are each facing unique life challenges simultaneously, from my juggling an active 3 year-old and curious 6 year-old, to my neighbors with three angst-ridden teenagers, to my single friends struggling with loneliness. Practicing perspective-taking, empathic concern and compassion for others leads to more loyal, engaged, productive and effective teams. That’s good for business.

2.     Structured creativity. One of the bigger concerns about remote or hybrid workforces is the potential loss of creativity – especially that which is spontaneous. The informal needs to be formalized, which includes allotting time for play, collaborative brainstorming, discussion, experimentation and reflection. Creativity at work today requires discipline. The good news is embracing creative constraints can generate even better results. 

3.     Strategic agility. Agility may be the latest corporate buzzword, but it’s critical for successful scenario planning. Companies that do this well have baked in slack for experimentation and strategic pivots. They routinely review what’s working and what’s not, make course corrections, and ensure teams and their members are load-balanced for success. Strategic agility is especially important in a world where dynamic change is happening all around us.

4.     Indefatigable resilience. It’s one thing to be resilient. It’s quite another to practice resilience continuously and inspire it in others around you. One way to effectively lead with resilience is by practicing storytelling. Being vulnerable can signal strength, build trust and model the qualities you’re looking to build in others. Indefatigable resilience helps prepare us for the next wave of challenges.

5.     Heart, humor and humility.  We crave connection. We need the release of laughter. Future-focused leaders are able to admit they don’t have all of the answers. They care genuinely about their team members and find ways to build positive and personal memories together.  

With one eye on the future, we need leaders who are fully present. None of us knows what tomorrow will bring. Let’s build leadership that acknowledges our current realities, brings out the best in who we are and what we can become, and inspires a vision for what’s possible in our newly created world of work.