For my first posting, I’d like to introduce you to the concept of Leading from the Future — a powerful perspective from which to understand and embrace the dynamic — and sometimes volatile — global business environment that exists today.
One hundred years ago, the future was much more predictable. The pace of change was slow. A majority of businesses were built around producing a physical product. Models to predict consumer behavior were built on past behavior and worked quite well. Today however, more businesses produce and sell intellectual property. The pace of change is exponential. In fact, it’s literally constant. The goal is no longer “change management” but alignment and resilience.
But how do we predict the future in this economy?
According to Judith Neal in her groundbreaking book, Edgewalkers, People and Organizations that Take Risks, Build Bridges, and Break New Ground (Praeger Publishers, 2006), there are three ways to predict the future:
- Rational, data-gathering, mathematical-modeling methods are most common (which is also covered in my first book, Data Mining Cookbook, Modeling Data for Marketing, Risk and Customer Relationship Management, Wiley, 2001).
- Intuitive methods are also common, although they aren’t always identified or considered acceptable. However, almost every great CEO talks about trusting his or her gut.
- Co-creative methods are gaining momentum for building alignment and resilience. They leverage expanded connectivity, constant feedback, and tap into the innate wisdom of the organization.
For more information on intuitive and co-creative methods of gaining significant results within a global swiftly evolving landscape, you can also refer to my latest book, Business Intelligence Success Factors, Tools for Aligning Your Business in a Global Economy (Wiley, 2009). In my next post, I’ll elaborate on the three ways to predict the future, discuss the underlying science, and unveil the connection to brain function and evolution.
Olivia Parr-Rud is an internationally recognized expert and bestselling author in Leadership and Business Intelligence, specializing in co-creating adaptability and resilience in organizations. Through the unique blending of her analytic and creative talents, Olivia helps leaders unveil and leverage the innate wisdom and untapped power within their organizations.
