Anticipative Leadership
"Remember this: Anticipation is the ultimate power. Losers react. Leaders anticipate." Tony Robbins
Wouldn't you love to be a mind reader? Wouldn't it help you navigate your days interacting with and influencing others? Unfortunately we are not. We do not possess crystal balls, therefore we have to apply empathy, active listening, and know our people on a deeper level. Knowing a person is a journey. It is one every leader must travel if they desire to lead their people to the best of their ability. I always start with questions like, "What would you want me to know about you if we were to work together?" or "What are the things which set you off, push your buttons as they say?" I'll also use the Forte Institute's Communication Style Report to help me 'see' a person deeper, helping me understand their level of dominance, patience, and conformity, among other aspects of their communication and decision making. All of this (and more) helps me apply anticipative leadership.
To anticipate is to regard as probable, to expect or predict. I apply anticipative leadership attempting to get ahead of a person's questions, or know how they might respond to something. It helps me apply my leadership more effectively. It's hard but our people deserve it. Anticipative leadership is also known as empathy - the ability to understand and or share the feelings of another.
I avoid equating experiences, "I know how you feel..." I apply anticipative leadership by simply asking questions. "Roger, do you need anything? What are your gaps in information with this complex project?" "Petra, you've been here a week, can I get some feedback on what you are seeing for inefficiencies?" I'll say things to comfort a new teammate, making them feel at ease, such as, "Ernie, you can do no wrong this week. Ask any question and question everything. We value you and your feedback." "Sasha, do you need a check before payroll catches up since you just started with us?"
I anticipate what and how someone might be feeling. I empathize with where they are in the journey they are taking with a new team or a new project. I don't fold my arms and wait for them to come to me. Indeed, I cannot anticipate everything, but I sure try.
What should you be anticipating today and what will your actions be as an anticipative leader?
Make it Personal!
Rob
Rob Campbell