Here’s a wild hypothesis…

… the future belongs to the romantics
Not the naïve dreamers lost in illusions - but those brave enough to believe in something desirable that doesn’t yet exist.

Gianpiero Petriglieri ’s thought provoking analogy at NBForum2025 stayed with me:
🩷 Leadership is a kind of love.🩷
It takes some insanity to believe in - and work toward - something that doesn’t exist yet.

Isn’t this were we find ourselves in these messy, uncertain times, when we can’t really see where we’re headed?

When the old rules no longer apply, we don’t need more control or efficiency.
We need leaders who dare to dream big.
Who can hold hope when probability says “no.”
Who believe we can shape the world as we want it to be.

In my daily work with leaders and teams, I see how we evolved to default to a probability mindset - anchored in what’s measurable, logical, and known.
But to create what doesn’t exist yet, we need to shift into a possibility mindset - involving openness, imagination, and a bit of beautiful madness.

That’s where the romantics naturally take the lead:

💗 Empathy & connection - they build trust and foster deep relationships
🌱 Openness & curiosity - they explore new ideas and innovate, even when the odds are against them
🔥 Passion & belief - they create hope and their energy is contagious
🎨 Imagination & idealism - they see not just what is, but paint a picture of what could be, creating the courage to shape the future.

So here’s my challenge for the weekend:
Reconnect with your inner romantic - the part of you that dares to dream, experiences life with vibrant emotion, and forms deep connections.

If you’ve pushed it aside for too long, try one of these:

🎵 Remember your favorite song? Listen, deeply listen to it, and allow it to move you.
📖 Pick up a book that inspires you or ignites an array of feeling in you - make space to feel the words.
💭 Dream big again - try that dream on. What does it feel like?
💬 And here’s one for the advanced ones:
Give the gift of connection: allow someone close to you to feel the full depth of your care.

Let’s nurture this romantic part of us.
Because passion, empathy, and imagination are contagious - and I feel they are the leadership qualities our future depends on.

💫 What makes your heart sing?