Seeing Around Corners

By Natalie Born

When it comes to leadership, what separates good from great? One of the most important attributes of an innovative leader is the ability to see around corners. While great leaders recognize current events in their industries, they also have the ability to anticipate future trends. They don’t sit back and wait for market forces to come; they anticipate those forces and respond in advance. Great innovative leaders are attuned and aware of three core climates happening around them: the Spiritual Climate, the Economic Climate and the Technological Climate.

Spiritual Climate: What is God saying? As leaders, we must remember God is constantly moving and speaking. Each day, we must ask, seek and knock for God’s will in our ministries and businesses. Cultivating a climate where your team can hear from God is critical. Pausing to create space for a direction change or divine inspiration is vital. Receiving this type of feedback from my colleagues has helped me course-correct numerous times, which has allowed our team to avoid major pitfalls. Innovative leaders slow down to ensure they don’t miss God’s voice.   

Economic Climate: What is the economy doing? Sometimes economic impacts breed new innovations. Oftentimes, it’s the trials that spark the greatest inventions and ideas through sheer pressure; it’s a forced-step change. The economic waves headed our way can’t be avoided. Instead of hiding from them, or trying to ignore them, we need to find those waves and ride them so we aren’t crushed under their weight and power.

Several years ago, my team sensed a large economic change coming. Major changes were made to strategy and staff. We doubled down on innovation while others were taking their foot off the gas. This accelerated us into a No. 1 spot while others were still reeling from the recession. Don’t be afraid of the economic winds. Innovative leaders use turbulent winds to disrupt their way of thinking and gain the advantage.

Technological Climate: Where is technology headed? Changes in technology can drastically enhance effectiveness and efficiency and give you a clear advantage into new markets and resources. When Life Church took on the Metaverse it was met with heavy backlash. But why? The church should be leading in technology and innovation, not falling 10 years behind. What about your team? Are they leading the conversation or lagging behind it? When new team members arrive, will they see things steeped in tradition and people saying, “That’s the way we’ve always done it,” or will they see a team with a growth mindset desiring to shape the future? Innovative leaders anticipate and invest in shaping the future. 

Innovative leaders learn to develop a clear vision by seeing around corners through research, study and prayer. They cultivate that vision, and it acts as a catapult in driving innovation forward regardless of the external climate.