5 Ways to Increase Your Vision for the Future

When we talk about seeing into the future, we’re not talking about being psychic, but rather, how does a leader see the future?

If 2020 taught us anything, it was that when one door closes, we need to see what other doors may now be open or accessible—what now becomes possible?

John Maxwell teaches that a leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees further than others see, and sees before others do. This doesn’t happen by accident or come easily; it takes intentionality to be able to develop this kind of ability.

So, if it’s not a skill we’re born with, how can we develop it? I think there are five ways we can begin to develop our ability to be future-focused.

How to Expand Your Vision and Lead with Foresight

1. DON’T BE SATISFIED WITH THE STATUS QUO.

John has joked before that, “Status quo is Latin for ‘the mess we’re currently in.’” I love this so much. Being satisfied with the status quo is what got companies like Kodak and Blockbuster into trouble. Both were industry leaders and saw nothing but blue skies ahead… until they didn’t. And as we know, things changed dramatically and swiftly. We don’t need change for the sake of change, but we have to be willing to embrace change if it’s needed, and not put a stake in the ground against it.

2. READ, REFLECT, THEN LEAD.

As leaders, we need to be well-informed about our industries, the markets we serve, our clients, and their needs in the future. John says we need to ACT—what is it we need to Apply? What is it we need to Change? What is it we need to Teach? Applying these principles help us envision the future more clearly.

3. HONESTLY ASSESS TECHNOLOGY.

How is tech changing, and how do those changes affect you and your business? I already mentioned Kodak and Blockbuster—technology changed so rapidly that iPhones and streaming services rendered both of their business models obsolete. Companies like AirBnB and Uber saw the future of technology and created models that embraced it, and now we can’t seem to take a trip without either one of these. They forecasted where all the new tech of the early 2000s would lead and created products we honestly can’t imagine living without in today’s world, changing how we travel in town and across the world.

4. BE AWARE OF GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS.

Are there new regulations being discussed? How might they affect your market? It’s really easy to assume immediately that none of that may affect what we do. But we need to pay attention to what’s happening inside and outside the US in a government capacity. Maybe something like regulations in climate change don’t affect you… but could they affect your customer? Your clients? This could have tremendous impact on envisioning the future.

5. LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR NETWORK IS TALKING ABOUT.

What’s the common discussion happening right now on your LinkedIn page? What are the industry groups you’re involved in currently focusing on? Your network can be an invaluable source of information about what others are seeing as current trends in industry, business, culture, and climate.

Develop a Growth-Oriented Mindset

One of the most overlooked aspects of future-focused leadership is a commitment to continuous personal growth. Leaders who are open to learning, seeking mentorship, and developing their skills are far more likely to anticipate change. Making growth a daily habit—through books, podcasts, mentorship, and strategic conversations—helps leaders refine their vision and make informed decisions.

Build a Team That Challenges Your Thinking

The best leaders don’t predict the future alone. They surround themselves with a team of sharp, forward-thinking individuals who can offer diverse perspectives. Encouraging healthy debate and inviting feedback from your team helps refine strategies and avoid blind spots that could impact the future success of your organization.

It can be frustrating to have to pause to consider all these things when it comes to leadership. But in order to be a company that leads well in the world, we have to be willing to develop our ability to see and forecast what’s to come.

One of our facilitators once said, “If you don’t like change, you’re going to like irrelevance a whole lot less.”

Leaders anticipate change and prepare for it. And by following these steps, we can increase our flexibility for it.

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