| "Leaders Make the Future: Ten New Leadership | | | | both calm and improve the situation. |
| Skills for an Uncertain World" by Bob Johansen is | | | | 7. Quiet Transparency is a skill by which a leader |
| an interesting read for all those who wish to lead | | | | by being open but not self-promoting. |
| into the future. Johansen comes at leadership | | | | 8. Rapid Prototyping deals with working through |
| from the perspective of a Forecaster, something | | | | many scenarios during the process of |
| he has done for more than thirty years, and an | | | | development. |
| over all premise that today's businesses and | | | | 9. Smart Mob Organizing is a leadership skill of |
| organizations are operating in a world | | | | organizing people using a range of media. |
| characterized by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, | | | | 10. Commons Creating within which both |
| and ambiguity, often referred to as VUCA in the | | | | cooperation and competition may occur. |
| text. | | | | Each chapter has relevant examples to illustrate |
| As a forecaster, Johansen states that he studies | | | | Johansen's main points and concludes with a good |
| the future to learn about leadership in the present. | | | | chapter summary. The concluding chapter, |
| This book contains the ten emerging skills that | | | | Readying Yourself for the Future, starts with a |
| Johansen feels will be crucial for leaders | | | | great statement, "Leaders can make the future. |
| responsible for maneuvering their organizations | | | | Leaders can decide what kind of future they |
| through the next decade. He makes a convincing | | | | want to create and go for it." I also like that the |
| case as to why these skills are important. | | | | author admits that the ten skills he outlines in this |
| Additionally, he provides guidance with how the | | | | text are challenging to master and there are |
| reader can incorporate the skills into their own | | | | other resources to assist you with them. You |
| leadership styles. | | | | won't learn everything from this book, but then |
| The ten skills include: | | | | no one single volume teaches everything. This |
| 1. Maker Instinct focuses on how leaders need to | | | | book should be used as a catalyst. Johansen |
| draw out their maker instinct and apply it to their | | | | describes ten skills for future leaders, and it should |
| leadership. Johansen states that future leaders will | | | | get you thinking about the concepts he writes |
| need both a can-do and a can-make spirit. | | | | about and exploring ways to incorporate these |
| 2. Clarity is a must in confusing times and a leader | | | | into your leading. |
| must be able to create and communicate with | | | | The speed of change can be overwhelming, and |
| clarity without being simplistic. | | | | things only continue to speed up each and every |
| 3. Dilemma Flipping is being able to succeed with | | | | year. I agree with the author that the future will |
| challenges that cannot be solved and won't go | | | | be loaded with opportunities and leaders must be |
| away. | | | | ready to take advantage of the opportunities as |
| 4. Immersive Learning Ability focuses on | | | | they arise and be agile enough to sidestep the |
| immersing yourself in new physical and virtual | | | | dangers. This book raises important skills that |
| worlds that may be uncomfortable to increase | | | | each leader should at least consider if not |
| your learning. | | | | incorporate into their leading. It is a quick read and |
| 5. Bio-Empathy is being able to learn from nature | | | | one I encourage any leader to not just read, but |
| and use that wisdom to inform your decisions. | | | | meditate on the described skills and seek ways to |
| 6. Constructive Depolarizing focuses on how a | | | | incorporate them into their businesses and |
| leader can constructively depolarize conflict to | | | | organizations. |