Futures Thinking: The Power Skill of 2024

By: Lindsay Angelo, Futurist, Strategist, MBA, TEDx Speaker

In a world where technology is advancing rapidly, cultures are changing, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming more prevalent, it's crucial to think with an eye towards the future. In fact, futures thinking is quickly becoming the power skill of the next decade. In this post, we're going to deep dive into futures thinking, why it's becoming more important, the role of a Futurist, and the role that diversity plays in creating purposeful futures.

What is Futures Thinking?

Introduction to Futures Thinking

Futures thinking involves exploring new paths, dimensions, and paradigms. It's anticipating trends, identifying signals, and envisioning potential scenarios, all with the goal of helping individuals, leaders, organizations, and entrepreneurs make better decisions.

As we face an increasingly complex world, there's a growing need to think with both the short and long-term in mind.

Growing Bodies of Futures Thinking

The field of futures work covers a wide range of areas, including the future of consumerism, culture, work, retail, technology, AI - and more. These areas provide fertile ground for purpose-driven narratives and business strategies that can guide society toward a more equitable and sustainable future. All bodies of futures work involve activating both creative and strategic thinking in forming a collective vision and strategic plan.

The Role of a Futurist

Navigating Tomorrow with Purpose and Vision

Professional futurists play a pivotal role in steering society towards a purposeful and sustainable future. Futurists are captains navigating uncharted waters; both planners and visionaries. Juggling both long-term planning and short-term thinking, futurists weave creative thinking into the strategic foresight process, connecting the dots across multiple disciplines. Here are a few of the hats Futurists don!

Igniting Creative Thinking and Strategic Thinking 

Creative and strategic thinking are the bedrock of futurist thinking. The job of a Futurist is to push boundaries and explore new ideas so staying curious is crucial. By creating an environment that fosters innovation and thoughtful strategy, you can craft an impactful future; one that shapes new business models, strategically positions organizations and sustains the planet.

Welcoming Fresh Ideas

Futures work is not without learning, adaptation, and recalibration. Change is the only constant, as we've been reminded of in recent years. As Futurists, it's important that we are constantly welcoming fresh ideas and keeping an open mind. Holding on tightly to ideas rather than being adaptable and flexible, in fact, makes a Futurist less effective. The key is creating an internal environment that welcomes new ideas and adjusts according to data and insights. Ego-lessness is the name of the game!

Storytelling with Purpose

As a Futurist, I find myself constantly taking complex ideas and breaking them down into simple parts, most of the time to serve in communication. Strategic storytelling becomes crucial to this. Remember what we talk about in our Strategic Thinking Masterclass...an idea is only as strong as your ability to communicate it. A strong narrative or story will form the difference between business leaders or organizational leaders understanding and wanting to take action on that idea/vision - or not.

Strategic Foresight Methods and Tools: Predicting Trends and Identifying Signals

Trends, the Belly of Futurism

Trends are the belly of futurism. They are pathways to the future—clues as to what's to come. But how do you spot a trend? There are many tools used to identify and analyze trends and signals; data analysis, futures research, environmental scanning, primary research, and more. These tools help us create meaningful and realistic portraits of the future so that we can prepare and plan accordingly. 

Scenario Planning with a Purpose

In addition to trends work, there are a variety of tools that aid in futures work, one of which is scenario planning. Scenario planning is helpful in laying out a variety of scenarios for what the future could look like—these are often referred to as alternative futures. This exercise helps create new possibilities, evaluate risks and opportunities, and make better decisions. Scenario planning also helps to communicate complex ideas to a variety of stakeholders and inform the strategic planning process.

Curious to dive into other tools that aid in futures work? We cover them in detail in our Futurist-in-50 Days accelerator—learn more here!

The Power of Diversity in Futurism

Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

Powerful futures thinking requires a variety of perspectives to truly understand the challenges and opportunities ahead. Without diversity, futures thinking can stray in a mis-guided direction.

Historically, futures work has been a relatively homogenous field. We are on a mission to change that! This was the inspiration behind Futurist-in-50-Days, a training program built to empower professionals and teams with the tools to navigate and lead into the future, delivering the narratives of tomorrow, today.

Lear more about female futurists making waves in the futures space.

Futurist-in-50 Days: A Path Forward 

Whether you're an aspiring futurist or a senior leader seeking foresight training for your team, we'd invite you to join our purpose-driven futurist community to actively shape a better future!

In conclusion, I'll leave you with two questions for reflection:
1) What can you do today to amplify diverse voices in conversations about the future?

2) What steps can your team or organization take to ensure that futurism remains purpose-driven and committed to bettering human-kind?

The future is not a foregone conclusion; it is something that we create so let's create it wisely.

Click here to begin your Futurist journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• What is a futurist?

  See this blog for more information.

• What type of background do you need to be a futurist?

  A wide variety of backgrounds can lend themselves to future studies—from Science to technology, to creative thinking fields, to cultural anthropology, to strategy and strategic planning. Because there are many tracks or niche specialties in the field of futures research, a variety of backgrounds can support the career. There is also formal training you can take—for example, a Certificate from the Futurist Institute, Institute for Futures Studies, Graduate Institute of Futures Studies, or a degree in futures studies. If you're looking for a practical learning experience delivering by an award-winning Futurist, checkout our brand new training program, Futurist-in-50-Days.

• What is the Futurist-in-50 Days training program?

  Futurist-in-50-Days is a virtual-based training program on how to become a futurist. Whether your knowledge on foresight is at the beginner level or you are one of the experts in foresight, this program will open your eyes to new tools, methods and opportunities.

• What will the training cover?

  The Futurist-in-50 Days training covers the skill sets required in future thinking, common exercises used in futures work, how to identify trends, futurist frameworks - and more. If you decide to foray into the field of futures studies, all these tools will greatly enhance your ability to anticipate future scenarios and future events to arrive at your very own preferred future.

• How to think like a futures expert?

  To avoid future shock and navigating wild card events, it's essential for foresight professionals to develop creative thinking, strategic thinking and proactive thinking—the magic treo. As experts in foresight or even someone in the beginner level, combining these three lenses is crucial and will allow you to form integrative visions.

• How can foresight help policy makers?

  Building foresight capacity can greatly benefit policy makers by enabling them to anticipate and prepare for future challenges and opportunities, including unforeseen events such as natural disasters. Foresight efforts can help policy and foresight professionals, in coordination with foresight units, adopt a more proactive approach. 

• Are there other organizations that offer futures studies?

  Some of the organizations that may deliver formal training in the field of futures studies are Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, Finland Futures Research Centre, Centre for Strategic Futures, Institute for Futures Studies, and more. These organizations are focused on exploring alternative futures and integrative visions, developing foresight methods, delivering corporate foresight and futures research, designing potential scenarios and providing futures research and consulting services.

• Is there really a need for futurists in every organization?

  According to Business Insider in their article titled, "Why Every Corporation Should Employ A Futurist", most companies don't think about the future enough due to the misconception that futurism is merely a prediction. However, it's important to note that futurists are different from fortune-tellers. Futurists lean towards objectivity or fact-based insights. Furthermore, the job of a futurist is to not predict the future, but to lay out potential pathways that might unfold.

  Perhaps this is why forward-thinking corporations like Google and Cisco are investing in foresight — they understand that foresight efforts can help companies tap into new markets and untouched niches by understanding how markets change over time. Corporate foresight can be applied in various business contexts, including strategy, risk, and innovation processes.

• How do futurists use science fiction and speculative fiction to inform their work?

  One of the foresight tools futurists commonly use is science fiction prototyping and speculative fiction. Through these foresight efforts, Futurists are able to examine imaginative landscapes and integrative visions. Several science fiction writers have created imaginative narratives that have had a big contribution to futures studies. 

• What are the unwritten "rules" of futures studies?

  Future thinking and futures studies embrace uncertainty and intrinsically recognize that future events are not predetermined but somewhat predictable, and can be influenced by present choices. Want to learn more? Check out our Futurist-in-50 Days accelerator here.

• How can foresight methods be used in service design?

  Foresight methods can be used in service design to anticipate future events, identify design challenges, and design experiential scenarios. By considering alternative futures and potential scenarios, designers and foresight professionals can create resilient and adaptive solutions.

• How can foresight efforts be integrated into company planning and businesses?

  Foresight efforts can be integrated into company planning and strategic planning by using corporate foresight methods to anticipate future events, identify potential risks and opportunities and develop strategic plans that align with a preferred future. Ultimately, powerful foresight informs better decision-making.

• What are desirable futures and how can they be achieved?

  Desirable futures refer to scenarios that align with our values and aspirations. They can be achieved by applying the principles of futures thinking, which involve exploring future possibilities and making informed strategic decisions.

• How does futures thinking explore future possibilities?

  Futures thinking involves examining a range of possibilities for the future. By anticipating trends and identifying signals, it helps in envisioning multiple future possibilities and preparing for various outcomes.

• What is the importance of preferable futures in strategic planning?

  Preferable futures are those that are more advantageous or beneficial for individuals, organizations, and society. Identifying and planning for preferable futures helps in making strategic decisions that lead towards a more favorable outcome.

• What are the core principles of futures thinking?

  The core principles of futures thinking include exploring alternative scenarios, anticipating trends, and envisioning desirable futures. These principles guide the practice of futures thinking and help in creating strategic foresight.

• How can a Futures Thinking Specialization benefit professionals?

  A Futures Thinking Specialization provides comprehensive training in futures thinking, equipping professionals with powerful foresight tools. This specialization helps in understanding larger patterns and making informed decisions about future possibilities.

• What is the role of a futures organization in shaping the future?

  A futures organization is dedicated to the study and application of futures thinking. Such organizations focus on exploring preferable futures, identifying key developments, and fostering innovation to guide strategic planning.

• How can powerful foresight tools be used to predict trends?

  Powerful foresight tools like data analysis, environmental scanning, and scenario planning help in predicting trends and identifying key developments. These tools are essential for anticipating future possibilities and preparing for them.

• What background knowledge is necessary for futures thinking?

  Background knowledge in areas such as technology, culture, and strategic planning is crucial for futures thinking. This knowledge helps in understanding larger patterns and applying principles of futures thinking effectively.

• How do alternative scenarios aid in futures thinking?

  Alternative scenarios present different potential futures, allowing us to explore a range of possibilities. By considering these scenarios, we can better prepare for various outcomes and make more informed strategic decisions.

• What are forecasting skills and why are they important in futures thinking?

  Forecasting skills involve predicting future trends and events based on current data and insights. These skills are crucial in futures thinking as they help in identifying future possibilities and planning for preferable futures.

• How does personal development relate to futures thinking?

  Personal development in the context of futures thinking involves enhancing one's ability to think creatively and strategically. It includes cultivating creative ideas, long-term thinking, and the capacity to envision desirable futures.

About the author

Lindsay is a practicing and award-winning Futurist, Strategy consultant, MBA and TEDx speaker. She provides growth and advisory services to purpose-driven organizations worldwide and is the founder of Futurist-in-50-Days, supporting impact-driven professionals in learning to think and lead into the future. When she’s not collaborating with clients, she’s hitting stages across North America to deliver keynotes on the future of consumerism, strategy and innovation. Prior to advising and providing brand and marketing consulting services, Lindsay spent six years at lululemon crafting their global growth strategy, exploring new marketplace opportunities and growing the company into the number one yoga wear player in the world. Her experiences culminate in what she refers to as her sweet spot — where strategy, innovation and insights intersect, where the rational meets the emotive, where facts meet insights and where logic meets creativity.