Five Strategies for Being More Future-Ready

We know Canadians are concerned about the cost of living and housing affordability. There are also significant worries related to mental health, food security, healthcare access, climate change, and immigration.

So, while we might be talking about what matters, it doesn’t appear to have generated the kind of action one would expect. In large part, it is because our silo-based systems aren’t conducive to responding to the interconnectedness and complexity of these issues. As a result, a different kind of leadership and action is required. Despite current challenges, we have an opportunity to broaden our perspective and invest time in thoughtful, forward-looking reflection. This means considering not only our individual goals but also the complex challenges affecting our communities and global systems — socially, environmentally, and economically. In essence, embrace a futurist mindset.

Futurism is a means to see beyond today. This kind of strategic foresight will help us all to see that while change comes from both the world and from ourselves, there is much we can do to promote anticipation and readiness for both expected and unexpected global and local changes. It is especially critical because if we don’t grasp the future we want, others will do it for us, and we may not like the result.

Five strategies for consideration:

1. Trust your instincts and intuition.

While we’ve generally been taught to rely on research and facts, it is as important to understand their limitations. Trends, which are based on historical evidence and proven conclusions, can be analyzed to provide valuable insights, but they alone no longer tell the complete story. In today’s rapidly changing world, even futurists admit they can no longer accurately predict what’s to come. Forecasting is increasingly difficult because many solutions to our current complex problems have yet to be developed. Individual and collective intuition offers an alternative way of thinking and knowing that shouldn’t be overlooked. While a gut feeling may sometimes feel like indigestion, it shouldn’t be dismissed; genuine intuition can be a powerful tool.

2. Make time for conversations and building networks.

My most impactful strategy for gathering relevant and meaningful information about the future is to hang out with smart people from diverse disciplines who are ahead of the curve. Some of these people are actual futurists practicing strategic foresight; others are leaders and influencers with or without a formal title. Many of them recognize that networks at all levels are essential for fostering economic growth, enhancing social well-being, promoting environmental sustainability, and driving technological innovation to shape a better future for all. However, conversations with one’s stakeholders and with leaders at the grassroots are just as, and sometimes even more, fruitful.

As a result, it will be important to:

? build diverse contacts;

? cultivate mentorships;

? invest in the development of both formal and informal networks;

? add ‘trends and issues’ as a discussion topic at staff, board, and community meetings;

? share and discuss new learnings after a team member attends a webinar, conference, or workshop.

3. Project the impact of trends, edge signals, and intuitive knowing.

In addition to making a concerted effort to be aware of trends, edge or early signals, and intuitive knowing, it is also important to consider how they could potentially impact your future and that of your organization and community. Developing potential scenarios based on that information will be important in determining future direction.

4. Get better at accepting messier and non-binary thinking.

In today’s complex world, simple solutions are becoming rare. Instead of seeking a single “best” answer, we must learn to accept ambiguity – mostly because many situations simply don’t have clear-cut solutions.

This necessitates:

• getting more comfortable with uncertainty and multiple perspectives;
• resisting the urge to oversimplify complex issues;
• ‘and/both’ rather than ‘either/or’ solutions;
• refining priorities with non-binary thinking that requires us to empty all of our baskets and find ways to order their contents that are more flexible and nuanced to reveal qualities and opportunities that may not have been readily evident;
• using this broader perspective to reassess and align values, desired outcomes, and strategic priorities based on a comprehensive understanding;
• getting more comfortable with uncertainty and multiple perspectives;
• resisting the urge to oversimplify complex issues;
• ‘and/both’ rather than ‘either/or’ solutions;
• refining priorities with non-binary thinking that requires us to empty all of our baskets and find ways to order their contents that are more flexible and nuanced to reveal qualities and opportunities that may not have been readily evident;
• using this broader perspective to reassess and align values, desired outcomes, and strategic priorities based on a comprehensive understanding;
• looking for ways that seemingly opposite ideas can coexist;
• seeking out multiple truths rather than a single absolute.

5. Act in a spirit of hope and belief that you can and will make a difference.?

Channel your inner superhero - minus the spandex, unless that’s your thing. While this is likely the most challenging strategy, it is probably one of the most important. It is oh-so tempting to play ostrich and bury our heads; however, turning toward the future with hope and a positive spirit is far less stressful and more rewarding. It’s not always easy, but it is the most important work we will ever do.

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