Leaders Evaluated by What Will Be, not What Is

Last week, during the second Presidential debate, Barack Obama responded to one of the queries by saying something like, ‘a President must bring the leadership skills to confront what will be, the unknown and even unpredictable events of the future’. This statement resonated with me. Think about it. It is easier to come up with resolutions and remedies for a current crisis. But true leadership is judged in hindsight following performance in situations that were unknown at the time of selection or election. This is true for the incumbent President Bush and how he will be remembered for his actions related to the Iraq War, and the current Economic Crisis. These political examples are not meant to polarize, but rather serve up the question on leadership, your leadership. What makes you prepared to lead for what is unknown? What skills would that require? Who do you know, personally or professionally, who demonstrates such skill?  Answer these questions and likely, you will see that leaders for a ‘future’ are present. They are absorbing an entire landscape and in real time, integrating and synthesizing. They preempt and/or diffuse crisis, all the way, staying in character, believable with the various constituencies they serve.
            What are your stories? Are you a leader for the future?