My Blog
Trend Talks vs. Futures Literacy: from passive consumption to active shaping
Anyone who has ever listened to a keynote by a typical “trend guru” or “futurist” will probably remember the frenzy of buzzwords, futuristic videos and seemingly inevitable forecasts. This article starts right there and shows why such appearances often cause short-term amazement rather than building long-term capacity for action. Instead of mere trend fireworks, it
Corporate foresight: from fearing the future to actively shaping it
If I, as an organisation, do not develop my own vision of the future, I am unconsciously working for the vision of others. This insight from critical futures research has far-reaching implications for organisations of all sizes. At a time when terms such as artificial intelligence, sustainability and new work are dominating the debate, it
Never Stop Learning: Getting coached at the SPEAKERY Masterclass
You might think that public speaking training is only for people who haven’t done it much and want to get over their fear of it. I have been speaking in public for 15 years. But when I attended Marcus John Henry Brown’s first SPEAKERY Masterclass in Berlin in October 2023, I learned so much in
How to talk about the future
This is my talk from the Speakery Masterclass in January 2025. The “Car-free City” is a negative future! Oh, great, another SUV-driving gasoline junkie. That’s right: it’s me, Christian Lindner! No, actually, I’m as green as they come, I live in Prenzlauer Berg and only got my drivers license last year. I’m a big fan
Angela Merkel’s Mindset – What her Biography reveals about Germany today
I admit that when Angela Merkel’s autobiography was published (see review), I was sceptical at first. As someone who often criticises her policies and has never voted for her party, I had little interest in another political justification. What finally persuaded me to read it was pure curiosity: what are the thoughts of a woman
Future Orientation: Understanding Hidden Narratives in Your Organization
Recently, I worked with the management board of a well-established insurance company convinced their organization had no future. Their industry was changing rapidly, and they saw themselves as stewards of an inevitable decline. Yet after examining future challenges in their field and mapping these against their organizational strengths, something remarkable happened: their perspective shifted 180
Sorry, this is not a trend report
As the year draws to a close, we are treated to a familiar ritual: the publication of countless trend reports designed to explain the future of the coming year. With mechanical regularity, the buzzwords of the moment are analysed – from artificial intelligence to new work to the metaverse. But amidst this deluge of predictions,
