The last two steps are where impulses and vision will emerge, turning your expertise into clear direction.
Step Two – Marinate
Like a nice steak being prepared, you need time to soak in the flavors of information you have gathered. That means setting it aside, walking away, and turning your attention to other things. Don’t worry your mind will still be working on the information even when you’re not actively looking at it.
When you care deeply about your work it is easy to hurry through this step but it’s important to not rush it. Create an open space for yourself. This open space can come in the form of both time and quiet.
A roaring fire needs space between the logs and likewise the power of your insights from all the information you’ve consumed will be stronger after some space and time to marinate. During this marinating step, be sure you are open to breakthroughs. Don’t be surprised if you’re driving alone and thoughts begin to pop in your head out of the blue. Remember that in this phase you’re not to judge or dismiss any of these thoughts. Listen to your gut and notice all of your hunches.
Step Three – Share
Finally, find trusted individuals in your circle to share your insights and hunches with. The goal in this final step is two-fold. First, these trusted individuals will help you to identify things you didn’t think of and reveal any possible personal blind spots on an issue or subject. Secondly, the act of talking out your thoughts will serve to craft your message. After all, you didn’t go through this process to keep your insights to yourself. You’ll be sharing this with your team or organization, and you want to hone your visions down to clear, concrete and simple terms that everyone will be able to grasp and get behind.
As with most other skills, practice makes perfect and even imperfect practice of foresight can lead to you becoming someone who not only charts a course, but charts one that others are eager to follow. Here is where some real transformational work can happen for both the organization and in the lives of those you’re leading. Your people want a vision and purpose they can hang their hats on. When followers are part of something that is larger than themselves, you create an environment where there is sustained business growth as well measurable impact on your stakesholder’s lives.