Future-Focused Leadership: Preparing Schools, Students, and Communities for Tomorrow's Preparing Schools, Students, and Communities for Tomorrow'

by Gary Marx

Can your organization keep up with today's rapid pace of change? Or is it falling behind, overrun by forces that seem almost uncontrollable? In Future-Focused Preparing Schools, Students, and Communities for Tomorrow's Realities , Gary Marx suggests that staying abreast of current worldwide trends and being aware of those just around the corner is the essence of successful leadership. In this insightful and informative guide, Marx presents principles, tools, and techniques to help leaders steer their organizations confidently into the future and prepare the next generation of leaders for life in the 21st century. Readers will learn to
* Scan the environment to identify and analyze significant trends and issues;

* Manage issues to set priorities and minimize negative fallout;

* Identify the characteristics of an ideal organization and construct scenarios that depict possible futures;

* Engage the larger community in building a future-focused organization; and

* Develop a strategic communication plan that supports the organization's goals and contributes to its ultimate success.
Future-Focused Leadership is written not only for education leaders, but also for anyone interested in successful, forward-looking leadership. Combining stimulating ideas and practical suggestions, the book will ensure that your organization or community is fully prepared today to confront the challenges of tomorrow.

Genres: Education

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Gary Marx, CAE, APR, is a noted author, futurist, education and leadership counsel, social observer, public intellectual, seasoned executive, and international speaker. He is president of the Center for Public Outreach, with headquarters in Vienna, Virginia. CPO is an organization he founded in 1998, which provides counsel on future-oriented leadership, communication, education, community, and democracy. Marx has been called an "intellectual entrepreneur, who is always pursuing ideas" and a "deep generalist."

As an international speaker, workshop leader, and consultant, Marx has worked with educators, business people, and other community and government leaders in all 50 of the United States, across Canada, and on six continents. He has visited 80 countries.

As a futurist, Marx has directed a number of futures studies and has been author or co-author of numerous books and articles. His most recent books include Sixteen Trends...Their Profound Impact on Our Future, Future Focused Leadership...Preparing Schools, Students, and Communities for Tomorrow's Realities, and Ten Trends...Educating Children for a Profoundly Different Future. Marx has spearheaded studies such as Preparing Students for the 21st Century and Preparing Schools and School Systems for the 21st Century.

Books Gary Marx has written open a window on massive trends that impact every person and institution. For many, they are a good read...a way to get and stay in touch with a fast-changing world. His books are frequently used as texts for courses ranging from leadership and education to strategy development and futures studies. Marx's trends analysis and processes that he suggests are used in environmental scanning, planning, and in stimulating discussion about the implications of persistent or emerging forces in society for people, organizations, communities, and countries. Marx shares techniques for envisioning alternative futures, stimulating discussion and even decisions about "what we should become" in light of a 24/7/365 world in constant motion. Considering the broader landscape, he observes that some institutions and societies need to consider anything from subtle changes to complete resets.

His international assignments have taken him from the northern Andean region of Peru and desert areas of Jordan to the Pacific coast of Russia, communities across Senegal, numerous cities and towns in several parts of Argentina, and speaking platforms and conference rooms in Europe. Marx frequently works with students who are developing civic education projects to improve life in their communities and countries. He is an on-the-ground communicator who attempts to understand people and issues and offer counsel, in many settings and at all levels.

Prior to starting his own firm, Marx spent nearly 20 years as a senior executive for the American Association of School Administrators (AASA). He was a television and radio "on-air" broadcaster and station owner before moving into education, serving as a school administrator for the then 10,000-student Westside Community Schools in Omaha, Nebraska, and the then 82,000-student Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado. That is in metropolitan Denver. Marx returned to Jefferson County to advise on strategy in the wake of the 1999 tragedy at Columbine High School.

Marx has been a frequent source for local, national, and international news media on issues affecting education and society. He has appeared as a guest on numerous television and radio talk shows. For nearly two decades, he served as a member of the National Teacher of the Year Selection Committee, and is a founder of the National Superintendent of the Year program. He was slated to become 2014 president of the honorary Horace Mann League's Board of Directors. Marx is a professional member of the World Future Society. He served on national advisory boards to commemorate the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution and restoration of the Statue of Lib

Reviews

[Alireza Hejazi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the ongoing process of shaping a desirable future. It addresses the idea that every leader must be an environmentalist, adjusting the organization to the requirements of a rapidly changing social context and the environment to the needs of the company. It gives the foundation for remaining current on trends and issues. It is intended to assist you and your business in becoming ready to establish and update your vision. Although the book focuses on education, it may also be utilized by individuals in other sectors, including corporations, communities, governmental and nonprofit organizations, associations, foundations, professional societies, countries, and international organizations.

[Amelia Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

The emerging trends are the most valuable aspect of this text. I wish, however, that it offered more ways to address them.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is this a helpful book with good information? Yes. Did I enjoy reading it? Not particularly. While I appreciate--and agree with--the information, I didn't necessarily identify with the author's voice. I'll definitely use it as reference though. There are big "take aways." For example, it makes the point that sometimes we jump into solving the problem before we fully understand the problem.

[Amber Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good content, but I found my mind drifting and had to struggle to stay focused.