High-functioning teams are the catalyst for thriving businesses. These teams are more than a collection of talented individuals; they are a cohesive unit that operates with purpose and shared values. The Express Blog’s High-Functioning Teams series explores the essential traits and practices that enable teams to achieve outstanding results together.
We may not be able to predict the future, but leveraging forward-thinking can chart a path with strategy, direction, and purpose. This mindset puts proactivity ahead of reactivity, allowing freedom to design the future instead of being limited to responding to situations and circumstances.
For high-functioning teams, forward-thinking creates momentum to collectively work toward success and agility to anticipate issues, identify new opportunities, and adapt as needed. As described by MJV Innovation, organizational ambidexterity balances exploration and exploitation for forward-thinking companies. Both are essential to embracing the present and anticipating the future.
Become Forward-Thinking
Forward-thinking is an action-oriented mindset that requires a change in behavior to be effective. Showing commitment, being positive, leveraging innovation, and listening are behaviors of forward-thinking leaders, according to Behavior Leader.
When striving to improve forward-thinking, use these questions to evaluate ideas and gain an understanding of how actions in the present may influence the future:
- What is the long-term impact of this decision?
- How will this change workflows or processes?
- What may be the unintended consequences?
- How does this support overall business goals and company strategy?
- What has failed or succeeded previously that can guide our decisions now?
Anticipated Outcomes
Results are never guaranteed and will vary by workplace, industry, and goals. However, when practicing forward-thinking, outcomes may include process improvements, planning ahead, strategic initiatives, risk-taking, and challenging the status quo.
When forward-thinking is the norm, questioning why processes and workflows function as they do and asking “what if” to spur new ideas becomes part of the workplace culture. Culture is never changed overnight but is formed by consistent actions and encouraged behaviors.
It may be tempting to focus solely on the future, but don’t lose sight of living in the present. Take time to celebrate accomplishments, recognize employees, and embrace today. Forward-thinking is an essential element to growth and advancement, however, reflection on the past and appreciation for the present are good for energy and motivation.
Embrace forward-thinking to build a resilient and dynamic team ready to tackle tomorrow’s challenges.
