Want to see your future? Observe actively!
I conduct workshops focused on critical and strategic thinking and my definition of “strategic thinking” is pretty simple — think well about the future. And to get people to consider the future I ask them about their mental radar screen. Visualize a radar screen and consider three zones.
In the middle of your radar screen is your Reaction Zone. This is the mix of all the usual stuff (mostly out of your control) that consumes your day (like meetings, e-mail, customer complaints, etc.) It’s the stuff that hits you and you and to which you have to react. In today’s economy, a lot of people are spending all of their time in the Reaction Zone thinking about current problems.
Go out a bit further on your mental radar screen and you come to the Adaptation Zone. What you see here (if you look) is stuff that you had better do something about before it becomes a problem. It’s usually pretty clear and you have some time, so don’t waste it. For example, as the economy turns around (as it always has) how will you sell to a more “discriminating” buyer? Or how will you appeal to the Y-generation and their heightened social consciousness?
Finally, look at the edge of the radar screen and look into the Anticipation Zone. What are the clues you see that portend a new future for you or your organization? This stuff is NOT clear and requires a bit a squinting to see a possible new future. Think about a hospital and the Anticipation Zone. What does personal medical records + Internet + reduced insurance benefits equal? I see both the incentive and the capability to “shop for value” becoming BIG. What do you see?
OK, here’s the bottom line. We have to look at the whole radar screen often. We have to react AND adapt AND anticipate if we are to succeed. This goes for businesses and for individuals.
What’s on your radar screen and what are you doing about it? Most importantly, do you pay attention to the edge?
Date: April 19th, 2009 @ 14:17
Categories: Prepared Mind, Sense-Response Cycle
