Tomorrow

If you know me well you know that I'm an Aaron Sorkin fan.

Whether it's The West Wing, The Newsroom, Sports Night or even the much misunderstood Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip it is rare that I go more than a couple of weeks without rewatching a favourite episode or two.

Why this (almost) obsession?

Well of course Sorkin is one of the best script writers of his generation and nobody has ever written dialogue so well.

"You want answers?"

"I want the truth!"

"You can't handle the truth!!"

But what draws me most to Sorkin's writing is his never ending optimism and belief that humanities better demons will always win out. Sure we'll make mistakes, put money before relationships and sleep with the wrong people but at least in Sorkin's world, we'll always make up for it, say sorry and try to make better decisions in the future.

Where am I going with this? Well if you know The West Wing - and I struggle to understand how you wouldn't, you'll know that the President has a constant and vital catchphrase used throughout the series. No matter how bad things are going - War being waged, economy in crisis, polling figures on the floor Sorkin - through the President - reminds us that we have to continue "What's Next?"

A simple phrase that says - I've heard you, I understand where we are, there's nothing more to be said right now.

Let's move on. Our current global situation with wars, political uncertainties, rise of fundamentalism, riots and economic insecurity leaves us all feeling unsafe and unsure.

We're all trying our best to keep going but we can be frozen by uncertainty and:

Uncertainty is the only thing we're certain of.

"Whats Next" Leadership is about looking forward.

Good leaders know the importance of raising their eyes above whats in front of them and focusing on the horizon.

Good leaders know that plotting a clear course is what helps their crew steer the ship to safety.

Right now leaders need to make sure that our teams and organisations don't lose focus. Its easy to focus on the now and get sucked into the negatives.

What we need to do as leaders is understand where you are right now, look to the horizon and set the course.

Ask yourself:

Why does oour organisation exist?

What is our organisation trying to achieve?

What is getting in the way of us achieving this?

Can we take what is broken and rebuild in a better, stronger way?

What new ideas do we need?

It is up to you to set the course so that your team don't beat themselves up trying to stick to the previous plans that might not make sense any more.

They need guidance.

So what do you do?

Take in everything that's going on around you and your organisation. Make decisions and give your team clear direction. Then take some time, breathe and raise your eyes to the horizon. The new course is out there, it's up to you to find it.

The last lines of the of The West Wing Finale feature the now former president on a plane having left office. As he stares out the window his wife asks "What are you thinking about?" He looks at her and replies

"Tomorrow"

I'd love to talk to you about tomorrow.

Get in touch [email protected] and lets have a chat.

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