I’ve been struck recently by my clients’ desires to simultaneously sail and drop anchor. By sailing I’m referring to the opportunity to advance, grow and change, strategically of course. To move towards the horizon. Counterbalancing that vision is an anchoring in the past – where we’ve been – as well as the here and now – both who we are and what we believe in.

In some cases this desire for change and continuity is required to achieve consensus on future direction. Whether organizations are still reeling from the recession’s perma-shifts (e.g., declining market demand, slow economic growth, and downsized operations trying to do more with less) or reminding themselves that they really, truly have been successful, there is a shift to what I call the pragmatic visionary.

Old Way or New Way

It is more difficult to navigate changing currents when too firmly anchored. Pragmatic visionaries understand the realities of today – and embrace them – while making a case for what is possible three to five years from now. We can hoist the anchor a bit more readily when we remind ourselves that our planning horizon is longer than 12-18 months. A three- to five-year plan provides span – a larger sail of sorts – to carry us forward.

Point your sails pragmatic visionaries. Team Corona is here to lend its compass and binoculars.