Leaders are future focused, future looking and have a vision of where they want to be. Leaders have a strong sense of direction with a clear point of view. Unless the has a string sense leader of where they are going, people will be reluctant to follow. Leaders look towards the future, plotting a course to a new land, leaders are modern explorers, seeking new lands and striving for distant shores. Kouzes and Posner in their their classic book, “The Leadership Challenge” see leaders as pioneers.
“Leaders are pioneers. They are people who venture into unexplored territory. They guide us to new and often unfamiliar destinations. People who take the lead are the foot soldiers in the campaigns for change… The unique reason for having leaders – their differentiating function – is to move us forward. Leaders get us going someplace.”
Leaders deal in the future, they have a future focus that acts as a signpost, a touch stone that point the way, giving others the confidence to follow, to make sacrifices and to take bold steps forward.