Will tomorrow’s business deals be negotiated in the Metaverse?  Do we all need to buy shares now in co-working spaces?  Are weekends away a thing of the past?

The Future Is Present

Those who know me, know that I love to travel and this issue of Sirise Insights was inspired by a recent trip to Copenhagen (highly recommended but be sure to take your credit card, because it's not the cheapest place to visit)!  A highlight was the Danish Design Museum – thought provoking and with a fantastic gift shop and café.

What really inspired me was a current exhibition entitled 'The Future is Present'. This comprises the work of several designers who were asked to present products and services that meet the needs of our societies in 10, 20 or 30 years’ time.

Their insights really struck me. On one hand I was horrified by some of the concepts, but on the other, I could see that, in reality, we were already very close to many of them.  My need to connect with people was hugely challenged by the idea that tomorrow’s offices may be entirely based in the metaverse, where we only ever meet others as our avatars.  Then there’s the concept of standardised wages.  How would it work if organisations were only able to attract and retain talent through non-financial means?

Could weekend city breaks be a thing of the past?  Reason being that there isn’t any reason to incur the cost, energy and impact on the environment just for a few days away, when most people can stay longer and work in a new space for a while.

As I write this from my new co-working space in Stockport, it struck me that in 10 years’ time, such spaces might be in so much demand that they’ve become too expensive for most people.  And don’t even get me started on designer dreams in the shape of a pill and AI tools that analyse your tasks and only notify you if they’re worth doing.

Take Time to Horizon Scan

“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent, who will survive, but those who can best manage change,” Charles Darwin said.  Today’s leaders and their teams must future gaze to stay ahead or else risk falling behind the competition or getting badly caught out.

McKinsey’s article Organizing for the future: Nine keys to becoming a future-ready company  identifies that organisations that stay ahead of change use a clear sense of purpose as the glue that connects everything together. They don't overcomplicate things and they seek out good ideas, regardless of the origin of those ideas.

How to Future Proof your Organisation

• Stay up to date and informed.  Leaders who are ahead of the game seek out the views of others especially those who aren’t like them;

• Take time to future gaze.  Make brainstorming part of your leadership style. Discuss relevant research and analyse this with your teams;

• Engage with your customers.  Understand where they are at. Find out what they're worried about;

• Develop your unique culture.  It’s a key differentiator in your ability to stand out from your competitors; and

• Embrace organisational learning.  Consider whether Psychological Safety is present within your leadership teams and across your wider organisation – it is okay to learn and fail from time to time.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on what’s worked well for you.

Sarah