Anticipation: A Super-Gift of Leadership

The holiday season is here—a time often filled with joy, celebration, and, for many of us, reflection on the year past and the one ahead. It’s a moment ripe with anticipation, that electric mix of excitement and uncertainty about what’s to come. For leaders, anticipation isn’t just a feeling; it’s a skill, a mindset—a superpower that can shape the future of their organizations.

I consider anticipation a driving force for success. Great leaders don’t just react to what happens; they anticipate what could happen. They use this capacity to prepare their teams, chart strategic paths, and nurture a culture equipped to handle challenges and opportunities. This holiday season—when every conversation seems to turn toward the future somehow—is an ideal time to reflect on how anticipation can empower you and your organization.

Anticipation Drives Strategic Thinking

Every effective strategy begins with the ability to think ahead. Anticipation allows leaders to recognize trends, foresee potential roadblocks, and craft plans that position their teams to thrive. Instead of waiting for problems to arise, leaders who excel at anticipation actively prepare for various scenarios.

For example, consider an organization facing rapid technological change. A leader anticipating this shift might begin investing in training programs months—or years—in advance. They align resources early, ensuring that their teams have the right skills and tools to adapt. Contrast this with a reactive leader, who scrambles to respond only when disruptions are already impacting performance. The proactive, anticipatory leader has not only minimized risk but has also positioned their organization to leap ahead of the competition.

How can leaders build this muscle? Dedicate time for strategic forecasting. Block out opportunities on your calendar to think deeply about the future—not just the next quarter, but the next year or even five years. Use tools like scenario planning to map out possibilities and pinpoint where investments of time or energy today could set your team up for success tomorrow.

Boosting Team Dynamics Through Anticipation

Anticipation can do wonders for a team’s cohesion and trust. When leaders share their vision for the future—opportunities and challenges—it brings people together. It’s motivating to know you’re all moving toward a shared goal and reassuring to feel prepared for the unknown. Clear communication of anticipated outcomes also reduces ambiguity, often leading to fear or resistance within teams.

Practical ways to foster anticipation within your team include making space for dialogue. Host regular meetings where team members are encouraged to voice their thoughts about what’s ahead. What opportunities excite them? What challenges worry them? Listening to these perspectives—and including them in your strategic planning—creates a sense of ownership and readiness among your people.

Anticipation flourishes in environments of psychological safety. When team members know their ideas are welcome and mistakes aren’t punished but learned from, they feel freer to anticipate boldly. Leaders set this tone. By modeling openness and curiosity about the future, you also help your team develop these traits.

Creating a Culture of Readiness

Strong leaders use anticipation to go beyond personal readiness—they embed it into their organization’s DNA. A culture of preparedness means everyone is attuned to the future and has the tools to respond flexibly. This mindset is crucial in today’s fast-paced world, where change is constant and the unexpected is always around the corner.

But building such a culture takes intention. Simply demanding “Be adaptable” doesn’t work. Instead, leaders must demonstrate what readiness looks like in action. Celebrate lessons learned from calculated risks, even when they don’t pan out—reward behaviors such as brainstorming, experimenting, and questioning the status quo. Over time, you’ll foster an organizational ecosystem that views the future as full of opportunity rather than something to fear.

The holiday season is a perfect time to consider readiness. Amid the celebrations, take a moment to ask yourself and your team what you need to feel prepared for the coming year. What skills do you wish you had? Where do you feel confident, and where do you feel vulnerable? These reflections can prompt planning that sets the tone for a proactive and purpose-driven January.

Practical Tips for Leaders

Putting anticipation into action might feel overwhelming, especially during the rush of the holidays. That’s why small steps matter. Here are three ways you can start harnessing anticipation now:

1. Schedule Reflection Time Block out an uninterrupted hour to reflect on your leadership between now and the end of the year. What have you anticipated well this year? Where did surprises throw you off course? Use these insights to inform your priorities for the coming year.
2. Engage Your Team in Future Thinking Dedicate part of your next team meeting to discussing the year ahead. Ask your team, “What’s one opportunity we should seize next year?” and “What’s one challenge we should prepare for?” Then, work together to turn these answers into actionable plans.
3. Set the Stage for New Habits At the beginning of the new year, establish “anticipation habits” as a team. For instance, start every Monday meeting with a five-minute discussion of upcoming opportunities or risks. Regular practice builds momentum.

Anticipation Is a Gift

As 2024 winds down and the promise of 2025 shines ahead, remember that anticipation isn’t just a strategy—it’s a gift. The ability to look forward, imagine, and prepare empowers leaders and organizations to weather uncertainty and realize their potential.

I work with leaders to develop these and other capabilities that drive change—not only for individuals but also for teams and entire organizations. By leveraging the power of anticipation, you can confidently lead, turn uncertainty into opportunity, and guide your organization into an exciting new chapter.

This holiday season, unwrap the gift of anticipation—and watch your vision for the future come alive.

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