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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 is more important than ever to take a step back and ask: whose future are we shaping?
Our actions today are shaped by visions of the future
In an interview with the SAGE blog, I had the opportunity to talk about the role of corporate foresight in modern organisations. It became clear that it is not about predicting the future. Rather, it is about understanding how images of the future influence our actions today – often without us being aware of it.
The current debate about AI is a prime example: instead of talking about the actual technological possibilities, we tend to discuss visions of the future that are heavily influenced by science fiction and the narratives of large technology companies. For organisations, this means that if you do not actively challenge these narratives, you may unconsciously adopt visions of the future that do not match your own values and goals.
From vision to leadership
The full article (in German) on the SAGE blog addresses the following key questions
- How can organisations move from being reactive to being proactive?
- Why are scenarios more important than forecasts?
- What role do images of the future play in leadership?
- What exactly does corporate foresight do for mid-sized companies?
I find the connection to leadership particularly exciting: developing and communicating a clear vision is, for me, at the heart of good leadership. Motivating people not by instilling fear of change, but by inspiring them with positive images of the future – that’s what distinguishes sustainable organisations from those that just react to trends.
We don’t even need to look into a crystal ball. Often it is enough to ask the right questions: What if? This simple question opens the space for real scenario work, without the need to set up a complex foresight project, right away.
In the full article on the SAGE blog, I discuss practical approaches to sustainable management in more detail and show how smaller organisations can benefit from corporate foresight. There is also a short video interview with me…
Do you want your organisation to be fit for the future?
Developing your own images of the future and integrating them into your corporate strategy is a complex process. As a futures consultant, I help organisations to move from simply observing trends to actually designing the future.
Whether you are looking for a workshop, strategic advice or a keynote speech, we will work together to develop approaches that fit your specific situation. Contact me or book a no-obligation initial consultation directly.