In a recent workshop I made the observation that: “We decide the future in the present, based on beliefs from the past.” This is not terrible. There is much to be cherished and learnt from past experiences. At the same time, a myopic focus on the past ignores the deeper
How far into the future do you need to look to determine whether the decision you’re about to make is a good one? Or perhaps framed another way, what responsibility (or credit) should we take for the unintended consequences of poorly considered decisions? Decisions might be made “in the moment”,
Over the last few months I’ve been sharing my observations about leaders becoming overly operational at a time when we need them to be operating strategically. In times of uncertainty, change can be rapid and unpredictable. We need leaders to be constantly scanning for change so they can pre-empt and
A few years back, I identified an interesting paradox when it came to planning and uncertainty. I had noticed among my clients—and in organisations more broadly—that times of high uncertainty often led people to lower their gaze. Instead of scanning for disruption and staying alert to changing conditions, leaders tended
Welcome to this week’s edition of Simon Sees! This week, we were inspired by our latest Future With Friends episode with Dr Richard Hodge, where we explored ‘The Future of Learning’. Recorded live with Melbourne startup Spill Haus, Richard invites us to see learning not just as a system, but as a human
The negative impacts of uncertainty on organisational performance are well documented — but they’re only half the story. Yes, uncertainty can: To be honest, it feels depressing just to write that out. And if you’re living through 2025, you probably don’t need it spelled out — most people have been feeling uncertainty
Welcome to this week’s edition of Simon Sees! This week’s signal inspiration comes from the latest Future With Friends episode — “The Future of Emotional Transparency“, featuring the always insightful Dr Kirsten Peterson. In episode 17, I chat with Dr Kirsten Peterson — “KP” — Olympic performance psychologist, about a future where technology tracks athletes’
Welcome to this week’s edition of Simon Sees! This week’s signal inspiration comes from the latest Future With Friends episode — “The Future of Silence”, featuring my wonderfully vivacious friend Amy Scott. For anyone who’s met her, the irony of that title won’t be lost on you. Set in 2045, Amy imagines a
This post is a reflection on a recent conversation I had with a local government client. Although the situation involved one municipality, the themes are far from unique. In fact, they’re global – spanning organisations and industry. They simply become more visible in politics, where expectations are high, scrutiny is
This edition of Simon Reads is inspired by this week’s episode of The Future With Friends, where we explored the future of power – who holds it, how it shifts, and what it means for the world ahead. From Ben Elton’s eco-satire This Other Eden, to Douglas Rushkoff’s nonfiction Survival of the Richest, and Zoë
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How scenario planning can be used to align thinking, stimulate ideas and overcome the inertia of uncertainty.
