By Beth Mauro, Chair of the AH Foresight Council
Foresight is a practice where you imagine 10 years or more in the future and adapt your practices to embrace (or combat) that outcome. But what happens when the change happens with such velocity and impact that you don’t have the luxury to look 1 or 2 years ahead, much less than 10?
Remember, you weathered Covid! Take what you learned from that pivot and apply it to the scenarios your organization is facing right now. Consider the impact on individuals, your profession, and the world:
- What if members lose their jobs or retire in large numbers?
- What if international attendees can’t get visas to attend the conference?
- What if tariffs cause member companies to go out of business?
- What if funding is halted and scientific research can’t continue.
- What if your members’ workforce dries up?
Get your community together and brainstorm your unique combination of scenarios. Tapping into the most possible voices will result in more ideas on how to adapt and thrive. Bring different generations and points of view to the table through community posts, surveys, committee meetings or roundtable discussions at a conference.
Start with frank discussions and honest assessments. Be open to a wide range of solutions, even if it means structural change in your organization. There is an opportunity for your organization lurking among the disruptors, if you look for it!
