Cultural Competence:Looking Around the corner

Leaders who "look around the corner" can foresee future trends, cultural disruptions and changes before they become evident, a key to being able to handle uncertainty with confidence. This forward-thinking strategy involves detecting subtle signs on the fringes, modifying risk assessments, and welcoming change instead of resisting it.

Here are three ways to improve your "looking around the corner skillset"

1. Focus on Signals, Not Just Predictions: It is less about guessing the future and more about paying attention to early signals, or "strategic inflection points," that indicate a major shift.

2. Challenging Assumptions: Seeing around corners requires constantly questioning the status quo and the assumptions that built the current business model.

3. Use foresight to hunt for growth opportunities: The ultimate goal is to prepare for and master a challenge before others even realize the challenge is upon them. Foresight will let go of the old and embrace the new.

"Looking around the corner" is a cultivated mindset rather than a natural gift. Leaders strengthen this muscle through internal and self-awareness, breaking out of the norm to expose blindspots and most importantly preparing the next generation.