4 do's for a session on future thinking
Create the right conditions
Exploring the future creates uncertainty because you're venturing into unknown territory. Take the time to have a dialogue about the future and be open to each other's vision.
Ask the right questions
When exploring the future, you ask research questions and scenario questions. Research questions address possible strategies and room for action, for example: What do current and future trends mean for the Netherlands, our sector, or organization? Scenario questions focus on possible futures. For example: What does the future of existing digital channels look like? By asking the right questions, you'll get better answers.
Assemble a diverse team
A good mix of ages, backgrounds, work experience, and personal qualities provides broader insights. This way, your team learns to look beyond their own perspectives and discuss other visions.
Determine who and why you're exploring the future for
It's important to think carefully about who you want to reach. You can conduct future exploration for your own department, your entire organization, or even external parties. This determines which questions you want to answer during the session. Do you want more insight into the future progression of current developments? Or become aware of the opportunities?
DEN developed 4 scenarios that meet these do's, so you can get started with your team right away. Check out the scenarios. (opens in new tab)
3 don'ts for a session on future thinking
These common pitfalls are easy to fall into, but not if you're prepared:
Exploring the surprise-free future
The future is not an exaggeration of the present. If you only explore one type of future, you're more likely to become fixated on certain developments. Instead, ensure contrasting scenarios to keep an open mind.
Avoiding taboos
Are there certain topics you'd rather avoid? Often, these taboos are precisely the important subjects for a strategic conversation. Turn the threat into an opportunity! (Den Hartog-De Wilde 2017).
Seeing scenarios as the endpoint
Your journey to the future doesn't end there: document the results and insights from the scenario session and attach actions to them. This makes your future exploration usable.
These insights you gain during a scenario session
A future exploration session will provide insight into what your organization needs to consider and what priorities exist: what actions should we take now, and what can wait? Which developments are uncertain and can be monitored? Which measures or strategies are not 'future-proof'? Which are? And under what conditions? Based on this, you can then make choices for your organization or sector.
Factors influencing our view of the future
Various developments influence the dynamics within your organization. These are not always within your control. Especially when those factors are challenging to predict. These are the uncertainties that form the core of the future dialogue. Think, for example, of disruptive events and emerging developments.
The future is not set in stone. That’s why it’s good to prepare for different scenarios that are fundamentally different. According to analyst J. Nekkers, scenarios must meet three criteria:
- Plausible: The future could unfold in this way.
- Surprising: This future brings you new thoughts.
- Relevant: The scenario aligns with a strategic or societal question.
Consult with a DEN advisor
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