Leadership success, much like athletics, can be achieved by learning to “Skate to where the puck is going, not to where it has been.” —Wayne Gretzky—
I recently read this great article posted on Linked In by General Martin E. Dempsey. Leadership requires learning, listening and the ability to imagine or visualize.
Imagination is a learned attribute. It’s some combination of training, experience, and eventually instinct that produces creativity in complex environments at the speed of teamwork.
But leaders can “learn to imagine” if they place the emphasis on “learn.”
If they learn to listen and to seek to know what the most junior member of their team knows.
If they learn to be alert for weak signals and to avoid becoming complacent with information affirming their beliefs.
If they learn to find advisors who will challenge them, encourage them, surprise them.
If they learn to connect disparate thoughts and to become uncommonly articulate.
If they learn to challenge assumptions and to ask the right questions.
If they learn to become comfortable with complexity and to be wary of simplicity.
If you’re a leader, you will need to exercise your imagination on behalf of your team. But learn first, and then you’ll be able to imagine.
Just like an elite athlete.
