Systematic application of a few basic principles allows you to use the future for planning and decision making now.

© Dr. Terry J. van der Werff, CMC

Every generation argues theirs is the pivotal point in history, a time of unparalleled change.  The present is no different: companies are redefining themselves; personal relationships are shifting; and technology is racing ahead at breakneck speed. It truly is a time of change.

In business, pondering the future can be used as the basis for planning and decision making now, in particular, in what I call the 3 R’s: Restructuring of your workplace; Relationships with your colleagues & customers; and Responsibility for your own personal growth & well-being.

Are there tips for flourishing in the face of change?  Yes, let me share ten with you.

1.  Create scenarios by asking "What if...?"  What if inflation soared to double digit rates?  What if a major overseas supplier was nationalized?  Scenario planning helps you deal with such questions.  It was developed at the Rand Corporation for the military after World War II and adapted by Herman Kahn in the 1960’s as a business tool.  Its most prominent use was by Pierre Wack and Ted Newland at Royal Dutch/Shell in the 1970’s to examine the impact on oil prices of a number of potential scenarios.

You can use it in two ways.  First, create scenarios for your business which involve big changes or external influences and ask “What if this happened, how would we be affected, and what should our response be?”  Second, and even simpler, ask yourself  “What if I were responsible, how would I respond?” whenever you hear or read of an difficult corporate or political situation.  The value lies not in the answers, but in the discipline of thinking creatively about unusual situations.  Scenario planning doesn't allow you to predict the future; it allows you to make better decisions about it when major events do occur, no matter what they are.

2.  Tap into the thinking of others. Information, wisdom, and creativity are wide-spread.  To benefit from the thinking of others, you must interact with them.  Read what they've written.  Talk with them.  Network.  Turn even brief encounters into thoughtful conversations.  You'll get value out in proportion to the value you put in.

3.  Interact with people outside your industry.  It is crucial that you have a sense what is going on in other industries, since frequently the great advances occur in the “spaces” between industries.  Other industries do impact yours, and it's nice to know what might be coming down the road.

4.  Stay abreast of current events in the world.  The world is shrinking, and you no doubt already have an international presence or are thinking about establishing one.  Since every culture is different, it pays to be aware of the major events, personalities, and issues elsewhere.  You will thereby avoid a “crash course” in another country just prior to getting on the plane to cut a major deal.

5.  Pay attention to developments in your industry.  You cannot be a leader in your own industry unless you know it thoroughly and have a command of cutting edge developments, both for renewing your own company and as leverage with your competitors.

6.  Incorporate new technologies into your organization.  New technologies arise in every industry faster than any individual can keep up.  To be an industry leader, your company must examine the best of the new technologies and incorporate them to raise productivity and widen your product offerings.

7.  Develop a crisis management plan.  What would your response be to a major crisis, such as an earthquake, a fire, or loss of your computer's hard disk?  How would you ensure the safety of your employees?  Could you meet your commit-ments to customers?  Could you reproduce vital company records?  Would you still be in business?

A crisis management plan should be written, communicated to all affected, and followed in an emergency.  By its very nature, in a crisis you are unlikely to search for and read the plan before responding.  Therefore, it is mandatory the plan be clear, concise, and concrete.  Those who have special roles to play in a crisis should know them well beforehand.

8.  Respect, empower, and invest in your associates.  This is, of course, a matter of courtesy, even justice, but it also makes business sense.  Trust them so they can grow along with you.

9.  Use the future as a touchstone for decision making.  You affect the future by your decisions now.  The more you ponder tomorrow and its possibilities, the more likely you are to make sound decisions today.

10.  Seek balance in your life - this is not a dress rehearsal!  Your business commands so much of your time.  Yet, it is not all you do.  Attend to your family, your physical and spiritual health, and your community too, for you will not pass this way again.  Change will be your constant companion, but if you stay alert to what's happening around you, pay attention to emerging trends, and use your head, you can harness the future for good purposes for your company, your community, and the world.