To Infinity and Beyond!
Space Ranger, Buzz Lightyear knew what was going on when he said “To infinity and beyond.” Although it was a programmed phrase for this toy in the 1995 hit movie Toy Story, he was an optimist about the future and moving forward. (Fun Fact: The phrase is actually used seven times in the film.)
Forward thinkers focus on the future and pursue a vision. This doesn’t mean that they are oblivious to the present, but it does mean that they aren’t slowed down with conventional concepts and they will not be stuck in the present. To the forward thinker, the present is a stepping stone to the future.
Izabela Lundberg , a member of the Forbes Council says that, “By establishing your organization with forward-thinking leadership and leaders, you will be able to tap into your knowledgeable, talented, innovative, creative, dedicated, daring, driven, diverse talent and teams much faster and more effectively.”
Here are some common characteristics of forward thinkers:
They have outstanding critical thinking and problem solving skills. They’re always asking, What’s new? What’s next? What’s better? What else can we do / create? (Think Steve Jobs of Apple)
They are courageous and inspire others. Leaders who are enthusiastic, work hard, and communicate their vision to their employees are much more likely to have a strong, dedicated staff than leaders who lack these qualities. (Think Tony Hsieh of Zappos)
They are highly organized leaders who plan ahead and have an inherent need to keep on top of everything, rather than wait for a crisis to happen. Outstanding organizational skills are necessary to keep on top of both long term goals and daily needs. (Think Jack Dorsey of Twitter and Square)
They are great collaborators. Forward-thinking leaders are able to sense the potential of future relationships with clients, investors, partners and even team members. The ability to pull together the insights and experiences of all stakeholders is essential. It also means being comfortable working in lateral networks that appreciate and value different types of talent and expertise that contribute to the whole.
They see a bigger picture. Forward thinkers go against the natural tendency to maintain status quo. They are willing to move forward on a path even without knowing all of the answers. They recognize risks and accept possible setbacks as learning experiences and are willing to revise and regroup when needed. (Think Elon Musk of Tesla)
“The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power.”
Unknown
To get to “Infinity and Beyond,” you need to consider where it is that you want to actually go and have a plan on how to get there. Here are some tips to help move you forward in the right direction.
Set goals that you believe in and motivate you. What do you want to accomplish? Why is this goal important to you? Adlai Stevenson I says, “It’s hard to lead a cavalry charge if you think you look funny on a horse.”
Create a map for achieving these goals. Of course, incorporate SMART goals, but forward thinking leaders take the blinders off and understand that there is more one way to accomplish a goal or run things.
Write ‘em down. There tends to be a little more skin in the game if you write them down. Not only write them down, but place them in a prominent place that you’ll see every day. Keep them in front of you! Mine are on post its on my bathroom mirror.
Hang in there and stick with it. Although you take the time to set a goal and plan out how to achieve it, there are always going to be obstacles and other crap that get in your way. Stay focused and keep moving forward.
So, how are you going to move yourself and your organization to infinity and beyond!
Let UNC Charlotte's Office of Continuing Education help you get there. Shoot me an email at [email protected] to set up time to talk.