If you’re like most of my best clients, you’re well aware, consciously or subconsciously, of myriad changes all around you.
I’ve noticed that leaders new to their organizations are exceptionally attuned to this knowing. Long-time leaders can sometimes become inured, unless a crisis suddenly lands in their laps.
Because the flow of information across networks is so fast—beyond fast, it’s immediate—we’re expected to change fast. Make decisions fast. React fast.
We need eyes and ears all around us, like sonar, detecting movement and change that could impact our organizations.
The solution is to develop foresight skills, being alert to the events, trends and issues that could affect our enterprises over the next 5 to 10 years. Painting an image of the future—and keeping it updated through our internal and organizational radar—is a way of surfacing opportunities, uncertainties, threats, and all sorts of stimulus that could positively or negatively impact us.
Then we have to make decisions.
Yesterday morning I read that the Destination Maternity, a retailer that has faced enormous headwinds recently, may have a buyer. On the surface how could an organization that sells maternity clothes have trouble?
Women have babies. Women wear maternity clothes. What’s the problem?
According to the article—and as will be obvious if you participate in our economy—the headwinds include declining birthrate, major competition from online retail, and even U.S.-China trade conflicts.
Could they have avoided these issues with better foresight skills? Perhaps.
The future hasn’t happened yet, so with foresight, we have the power to navigate around trouble ahead, preparing for it and making contingency plans.
The key is making decisions and taking appropriate action.
If trouble is on your door step, don’t just sit there watching it unfold. Move out of the way. Take control. Make a plan. Create a new vision, based on the information and foresight you have available. Don’t get caught in the turmoil, as much as you can prevent it.
And at the same time, when you see an opportunity and verify that it aligns with your future direction, seize the moment. Go for it. Roll the dice. 
A Philly barista's suggestion on change.In this new era, rapid movement, volatility, and change are happening in slow and fast ways—which is why we have such a divisive culture, at least here in the U.S.
Take advantage of this pace. And remember to fortify yourself with rest and self-care.
Here’s to your future.
If you need assistance looking more closely into the future or with deciphering what it may mean, please get in touch. You may know that I'm trained as a futurist and provide insights and strategies to clients on topics just like these.