We’re Living in a Post-Planning World — Here’s How to Thrive

I moved a lot as a kid — we probably lived in 10 different countries before I was six years old. I even learned to speak German for Kindergarten.?

To some, all that uprooting might seem chaotic, but to me, it was normal. Looking back, I wonder if hopping from Russia to Hong Kong to Switzerland and beyond in those early years planted a seed that’s made me comfortable with constant change. As an entrepreneur, that comfort with uncertainty has served me well… and during these past two years of extreme upheaval, it’s a skill set I’ve valued more than ever.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m also an overthinker. I’m an engineer by training, after all — I love systems, processes and getting 12 steps ahead. But I know first-hand that meticulous planning and real life don’t always mix, and right now, in the midst of the fourth wave of Covid, that’s more true than ever.

Time horizons have to be short, as global health regulations are changing daily. Not to mention, outside of the pandemic, we cycle through news , technology and trends much quicker.?

And with the mass embrace of a “yolo” lifestyle for home and work , it’s hard to even know what team you’ll be working with in the coming months and years; a turnover “tsunami” is anticipated when the pandemic finally reaches its end.

In short, planning has never seemed more futile — but that doesn’t mean work needs to be purely reactive, or goal-less. Here’s what I’ve learned about how (and when!) to position myself in front of the puck, and when to let intuition rule.?

Keep Your Vision Steady, Your Plan Nimble

To clarify: living in a post-planning work world doesn’t mean you can’t think ahead. In fact it’s as important as ever to have a long-term vision. But a steady vision often requires a nimble day-to-day execution.?

Let me explain. Your vision and strategy are your north star. They are the steady guideposts that keep you focused in the most chaotic of times. When you’re making decisions, even on the fly, you need a why.?

Your plan is the steps you take to get to your goal. How that happens should be flexible, even if your goal itself is not.

Being adaptive doesn’t mean you’re scrambling: it means you have a plan B and plan C, and switching to those won’t cause everything to crumble.

The Danger of Rigid Planning

I know this goes against common entrepreneurial thinking: you’re supposed to power through any hurdle and trust in the plan. But I think that rigidity often causes more harm than good. Even the best-laid plans come up against obstacles, and if you’re not willing to adapt, you miss out on opportunities.?

In my early software engineering days, I worked at Nortel. When we planned for a release, there was a two-year lead up. The rigorous launch process required heavy development and coding before the software release. The drawback was sometimes the product was deemed irrelevant by the time it came out. If we’d misjudged the market, we’d wasted our time.

Instead of trying to capture a particular market or client need, I’ve found it better to set your vision based on macro trends: big picture events or societal shifts that are less likely to move off course. The rising cost of real estate globally , for instance, or falling birth rates in North America .?

These trends aren’t thrown off by a black swan event like a pandemic. In fact, they may even be accelerated.?

Identifying these macro trends starts with pattern recognition: reading and sourcing information from diverse sources, and looking for repeating themes. Surround yourself with people who are adept at this, too: you don’t have to do it alone!

Adaption is a Muscle That Needs to Be Exercised

There’s comfort in having a set plan with clear steps and a decisive path forward. But in reality, plans don’t always work. Rather than trying to force a plan, maybe we could all use a little practice in adaptability. I do believe being comfortable with change takes practice. Like a muscle, the more we exercise shaking up our routine, the stronger we get at adapting.?

My team flexes their adaptation muscles regularly, with practices like quarterly desk changes. When we were all in the office, we’d swap where we sat a few times a year. It puts everyone in a fresh space, next to a new group of co-workers, to break down silos and create new routines. I also think our regular hack weeks help the team practice problem-solving under a time constraint, building confidence with nimble decision-making.

These are small scale changes, but honing the skill of adapting to new situations prepares everyone for bigger shifts… like suddenly working from home, for instance. I’m proud that in the face of such a massive change, my team hit the ground running in part because we’ve fostered a culture of flexibility and nimbleness.?

One interesting benefit of this post-planning era is it enables more people to get into business. There are fewer barriers when you don’t have to plan so much: influencers and solopreneurs for instance , can build businesses based on community interest and adapt their models according to live customer feedback in a way big corporations often struggle to. I’ll be curious to see who thrives in this post-planning era, and which visions will ultimately win out and define the future of business.?

A version of this post was originally featured in?Forbes . Stay up to date with my latest by following me here and on?Twitter .