How Does a Futurist See the Future: 4 Questions You Need to Know | Jacob Morgan

Future Ready Leadership With Jacob Morgan

8 Feb 202203:51

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the speaker clarifies that futurists don't predict the future but prepare for it, helping to anticipate and adapt to change. They emphasize the importance of thinking like a futurist, especially for leaders, and liken it to strategic thinking in chess. Four key questions are introduced to guide decision-making and future-oriented thinking: why might something happen, what else might happen, what factors will influence outcomes, and what do you want to happen. The speaker encourages proactively shaping the future rather than passively accepting it.

Takeaways

🔮 A futurist doesn't predict the future but prepares for it, ensuring one is not surprised by what it may bring.
🚀 The pace of change is accelerating, making it crucial to anticipate future scenarios to navigate chaos effectively.
👑 Thinking like a futurist is akin to thinking like a chess player, considering multiple moves and responses in advance.
🤔 The first question for futurist thinking is 'Why might something happen?', which explores the factors that could make a scenario real.
🛑 The second question is 'What else might happen?', encouraging the consideration of alternative outcomes and possibilities.
🔄 The third question focuses on 'What factors will influence the outcome?', identifying variables that could affect the realization of scenarios.
🌟 The most important question is 'What do you want to happen?', reminding us that we shape our future and should actively work towards desired outcomes.
💡 Regularly asking these four questions can enhance decision-making, investment considerations, and priority setting in a dynamic world.
📚 The speaker recommends a PDF from thefutureemployee.com for insights on employee evolution and organizational adaptation.
💼 Thinking like a futurist is a valuable asset for leadership, aiding in making informed decisions in a rapidly changing environment.

Q & A

What is the primary misconception about futurists according to the video?
-The primary misconception is that futurists predict the future, but in reality, they help ensure that one is not surprised by what the future might bring.
Why is it important to learn how to think like a futurist?
-It is important because the pace of change has increased, and being able to anticipate different scenarios can help one adapt and lead effectively in a rapidly changing world.
How does the speaker compare thinking like a futurist to playing chess?
-The speaker compares thinking like a futurist to playing chess because both involve considering multiple scenarios and potential responses, rather than predicting a single outcome.
What are the four questions the speaker suggests to help think like a futurist?
-The four questions are: 1) Why might something happen? 2) What else might happen? 3) What are some of the factors that will influence or impact why something will or will not happen? 4) What do you want to actually happen?
What is the significance of the first question, 'Why might something happen?'
-This question helps one to consider the factors and scenarios that could lead to a particular outcome, preparing for various possibilities.
How does the second question, 'What else might happen?', contribute to futurist thinking?
-It encourages considering alternative scenarios and outcomes, broadening the perspective beyond a single anticipated event.
What role do external factors play according to the third question?
-External factors such as government regulations, team decisions, or funding can significantly influence whether a scenario will occur.
Why is the fourth question, 'What do you want to actually happen?', considered the most important by the speaker?
-It emphasizes that the future is not just something that happens to us, but something we can actively shape and create.
How can one take the fourth question further according to the video?
-One should not only consider what they want to happen but also plan how to make that desired future a reality.
What resource does the speaker mention for further insights on employee evolution?
-The speaker mentions a PDF available at thefutureemployee.com, which provides a breakdown of employee evolution and actionable items for organizations.

Outlines

00:00

🔮 Understanding Futurism and Its Relevance

The speaker begins by introducing the topic of futurism and the common misconception that futurists predict the future. Instead, they explain that futurists help individuals prepare for the unexpected in an increasingly chaotic world. The speaker shares their personal journey of obtaining a professional certification in foresight from the University of Houston. They emphasize the importance of thinking like a futurist, especially for leaders, and compare it to thinking like a chess player, who considers multiple scenarios and responses to their opponent's potential moves.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Futurist

A futurist is someone who studies the future and makes predictions or projections about it, often focusing on technology, society, and the environment. In the context of the video, the speaker clarifies that futurists don't predict the future but instead help prepare for it by considering various scenarios and potential outcomes. The video emphasizes the importance of futurist thinking for leaders to navigate the rapidly changing world.

💡Foresight

Foresight refers to the ability to anticipate the future and make informed decisions based on that anticipation. The speaker mentions obtaining a professional certification in foresight, which implies a structured approach to thinking about the future. It is related to the video's theme by highlighting the value of foresight in leadership and decision-making.

💡Scenario Planning

Scenario planning is a strategic planning method that some organizations use to make flexible long-term plans. It involves considering multiple possible or alternative futures. The video uses chess as an analogy, where the speaker considers various responses to a move, which is akin to scenario planning in business or leadership.

💡Chaos

Chaos, in this context, refers to a state of extreme confusion and disorder. The speaker mentions that the pace of change has increased, leading to more chaos. This term is used to emphasize the need for futurist thinking to help leaders manage and anticipate the complexities and uncertainties of the future.

💡Chess Player

The chess player analogy is used to illustrate the strategic thinking process involved in futurist thinking. Just as a chess player anticipates their opponent's moves and plans responses, a futurist considers various possible futures and how to prepare for them. This analogy is central to the video's message about proactively shaping the future rather than passively accepting it.

💡Investment

In the video, investment is discussed in the context of making decisions about resources, time, and effort. The speaker suggests that futurist thinking can help in making informed investments by considering different scenarios and their potential impacts. This term is relevant to the video's theme as it ties into the broader concept of strategic planning for the future.

💡Leadership

Leadership is a key theme in the video, with the speaker arguing that futurist thinking is particularly valuable for leaders. Leadership in this context involves guiding others through change and making decisions that shape the future. The video suggests that leaders who can think like futurists will be better equipped to navigate the complexities of a changing world.

💡Decision Making

Decision making is the process of choosing a logical course of action among several alternatives, which is a central focus of the video. The speaker provides four questions to aid in decision making, emphasizing the importance of considering different possibilities and outcomes. This term is integral to the video's message about preparing for an uncertain future.

💡Variables

Variables in the video refer to the changing factors or conditions that can influence the future. The speaker mentions that there are many variables contributing to the chaos and pace of change, making it difficult to predict the future. Understanding and accounting for variables is a key aspect of futurist thinking.

💡Reality

Reality, as discussed in the video, is not just something that happens but is also something that individuals and organizations help create. The speaker encourages viewers to consider what they want to happen and to actively work towards making that future a reality. This term is used to shift the perspective from passive recipients of the future to active creators.

💡PDF

The speaker mentions a PDF titled 'The Future Employee,' which is a resource for understanding how employees are evolving and what organizations need to do to adapt. This term is used to provide additional value to the audience by directing them to a practical tool that aligns with the video's theme of preparing for the future.

Highlights

A futurist's role is not to predict the future but to prepare for it.

Futurists help ensure you're not surprised by future changes.

The pace of change has increased, making futurist thinking valuable.

Futurist thinking is akin to being a strategic chess player.

Futurists consider various scenarios and how to respond to them.

Four key questions to start thinking like a futurist.

Question 1: Why might something happen?

Question 2: What else might happen?

Question 3: What factors will influence the outcome?

Question 4: What do you want to happen and how will you make it so?

The future is not something that happens to you; it's something you help create.

Futurist thinking is an asset for leadership in a rapidly changing world.

Regularly asking the four futurist questions can shape your decision-making.

The importance of not just predicting but preparing for the future.

Futurist thinking helps in setting priorities in a chaotic world.

Encouragement to take action towards the desired future.

Introduction of a new PDF resource on employee evolution.

The PDF provides a breakdown of employee evolution and actionable items for organizations.

Resource available at thefutureemployee.com for further insights.