Future Organizational Identification: Visionary Leadership Gives Me Foresight to Identify With My Organization in the Future

This research introduces the concept of future organizational identification (FOI), an extension of organizational identification (OI) that emphasizes its forward-looking aspect. FOI refers to an individual's projection of their self-definition based on the continuity of their organizational membership. Drawing on construal level theory (CLT) and a future-oriented approach, this research investigates how visionary leadership, which offers vision communication and vision of continuity, may enhance followers' FOI through future focus. Study 1, comprising Studies 1a and 1b, validates the measurement of FOI in workplace contexts. With a three-wave, time-lagged investigation, Study 2 demonstrates that leaders' vision communication fosters followers' FOI by promoting future focus, and vision of continuity positively moderates this mediation effect. These findings advance literature on organizational identification, visionary leadership, and CLT. We conclude by discussing the theoretical and practical implications of our findings and proposing directions for future research.