Thinking About the Future, Why It Matters & How to Do It

This piece is reluctantly written for a few reasons. First, there are already countless articles, posts, and books on what futures thinking entails. Second, its sheer breadth makes it easy to overlook important aspects. Third, and most importantly, showing is much more fun than telling.

However you think about “the future,” one principle remains true:

no one can predict the future with certainty

Actions create consequences — whether intended or unintended — and those consequences lead to further choices, shaping reality over time.

The Limits of Our Imagination

When thinking about the future, we often imagine what it might look like, but the picture we create is limited by the boundaries of our own imagination. In strategy discussions, it is often the worst-case scenario that dominates meeting rooms. The “But what if…” questions take over. While mitigating risks is crucial, focusing solely on one outcome blinds us to others.

Only when we look backwards do we notice the whispers of what could have been anticipated if we had paid closer attention. Sometimes, those signals were as glaring as neon flashing lights, but the constraints of our mental models convinced us otherwise: That will never happen.

Building the Future Every Day

Building the future is not limited to grand strategies; it happens in the small, everyday choices we make. Every time you reach for a second slice of chocolate cake or decide to hit the gym, you shape the body you live in. The same principle applies to businesses.

Why Futurists?

Futurists and foresight practitioners use tools that help break down barriers, expand thinking to consider all possibilities, reveal probabilities, and assist in building a preferable future for your business. By mastering change and challenging entrenched mental models, futurists uncover holistic environmental trends, systems, weak and strong signals, and critical uncertainties. They help craft a clear vision of the future and explore the scenarios that could lead you there.

Beyond the 3- to 5-Year Plan

The purpose of a 3- to 5-year strategic plan is to act as a roadmap to propel a business forward. In some cases, it succeeds, but in others, it becomes a record of past shortcomings and unfulfilled goals. This may happen for various reasons, including implementation barriers, environmental challenges, or technological disruptions.

Strategy then transforms from broad aspirations into tangible, actionable roadmaps that can withstand the storms of uncertainty and deliver long-term success.

Take Time to Think About the Future

Before planning for the future, you must make space to think about it. Whether through structured workshops, facilitated discussions, or simply setting aside time to explore possibilities, the future is yours to shape. Start today.

And if you need help? Contact Us😉

Strategic Insights & Foresight

First published on Medium