The anticipatory leader: futurist, strategist and integrator

Abstract

Purpose

The paper seeks to show that in today's turbulent business environment, the advantage goes to organizations whose leaders are continually scanning the external environment, engaging in organizational dialogue and participating in learning processes in order to discover possibilities, mobilize positive energy and build commitment within their organizations to achieve a shared, robust view of the future.

Design/methodology/approach

So that more executives can succeed in this way, the study analyzed the action skills and thought patterns of successful “anticipatory leaders.”

Findings

These “anticipatory leaders” consistently demonstrate three skills: As futurists, they inform themselves about a wide range of current events and trends. As strategists, they hone their understanding of the opportunities and threats that these shifts present. As integrators of ideas, beliefs and emotions they continually engage with the people of their organizations, identifying opportunities and aligning resources toward common objectives.

Practical implications

The paper offers executives a “self‐assessment” inventory. Leaders who hope to successfully shape how their organization evolves in the dynamic era that is unfolding can use the skills inventory to learn the art of anticipating the future.

Originality/value

Anticipatory leaders achieve a disciplined understanding of a range of potential future conditions. By using systems thinking and scenario analysis together, anticipatory leaders are able to galvanize action at all levels of their organizations through their ability to articulate the new thinking that informs strategic decisions.

Citation

Savage, A. and Sales, M. (2008), "The anticipatory leader: futurist, strategist and integrator", Strategy & Leadership, Vol. 36 No. 6, pp. 28-35. https://doi.org/10.1108/10878570810918331