I used to ride a motorcycle. To get my licence I had to attend a course where they taught us to continually check our mirrors. To stay safe on a bike on Sydney roads I learned to continually anticipate what other vehicles were doing, to watch the road for potholes and other hazards, to plan ahead for the weather, and know which route to take. (This was before the days of smartphones on the handlebars).

Future Fit business leaders also anticipate. They anticipate that things will change. All the time.

The pace of change is increasing exponentially, pushed by technology which in turns changes our lifestyles, our social norms, and our customer expectations.

It’s not just about anticipating problems or being able to resolve them quickly. It’s about being future focussed. It’s about anticipating solutions. Future Fit leaders are asking “What’s going on in the world that we need to not only pay attention to, but prepare for, with the products and services we are offering our clients?”

It’s hard to do this when you are so busy just doing the doing. But the more frequently you do, the easier it becomes. A process built into your planning cycle makes anticipating the norm. Sometimes it’s called risk, sometimes strategy. It doesn’t really matter what you call it.

What might overtake you? Are you regularly checking your mirrors and the road ahead?