Think Forward: Conversations with Futurists, Innovators and Big Thinkers
Welcome to the Think Forward podcast where we have conversations with futurists, innovators and big thinkers about what lies ahead. We explore emerging trends on the horizon and what it means to be a futurist.
Think Forward: Conversations with Futurists, Innovators and Big Thinkers
FIF Series EP 98 - Future Readiness Assessment
We conduct a comprehensive future readiness assessment to help you measure your capabilities across five key dimensions and create a personal development roadmap for navigating transformation effectively.
• Future readiness isn't a single capability but a multidimensional capacity spanning how you think, what you know, how you act, and what systems you've built
• The five dimensions of assessment include futures literacy, supershift awareness, foresight methodology, systems integration, and adaptive capacity
• Futures literacy measures your ability to engage with multiple futures, temporal intelligence, comfort with uncertainty, awareness of assumptions, and balanced perspective
• Supershift awareness evaluates your understanding of nine major transformative forces reshaping our world, from telefusion to eco-awakening
• Foresight methodology assesses your practical capability with futures tools like signal scanning, trend analysis, and scenario development
• Systems integration examines how well you've embedded futures thinking into ongoing processes and decision-making
• Adaptive capacity represents your ability to actually respond effectively to change through learning agility, resource flexibility, and resilience
• Creating a comprehensive profile across these dimensions reveals your strengths and development opportunities
• For organizational leaders, an additional assessment evaluates collective future readiness across strategic integration, cultural adaptability, and leadership orientation
• The goal isn't perfect scores but honest reflection that reveals specific areas for growth and a practical roadmap forward
Share your future readiness assessment with a trusted colleague, friend or mentor and ask for their perspective. Commit to one specific practice from your development plan to implement immediately. Don't wait for the perfect time to start strengthening your future readiness.
ORDER SUPERSHIFTS! bit.ly/supershifts
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Thank you for joining me on this ongoing journey into the future. Until next time, stay curious, and always think forward.
Welcome to the Think Forward podcast, where we speak with futurists, innovators and big thinkers. Come along with your host, steve Fisher, and explore the future together.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to Foundations in Foresight a Think Forward series. I'm Steve Fisher, and today we're doing something essential for your futures practice conducting a comprehensive future readiness assessment. Throughout this series, we've explored powerful frameworks, methodologies and super shifts that are reshaping our world. We've learned about the transform model, the spectrum foresight method and the futures operating system. We've conducted workshops to apply these tools to personal, organizational and societal futures. But today we're taking a step back to assess where you actually stand in your foresight journey. Because here's the truth Understanding futures concepts is one thing. Actually being ready to navigate transformation is another. Today's assessment will help you measure your future readiness across multiple dimensions personally, professionally and organizationally. This isn't about perfect scores. It's about honest reflection that reveals your strengths and opportunities for growth. By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear picture of your current future readiness, specific areas for development and a roadmap for strengthening your foresight capabilities. So let's get started with this comprehensive assessment the five dimensions of future readiness. Future readiness isn't a single capability. It's a multidimensional capacity that spans how you think, what you know, how you act and what systems you've built.
Speaker 2:Let's explore the five key dimensions we'll be assessing today. First, futures literacy Futures literacy measures your ability to understand and engage with future possibilities. This includes your comfort with uncertainty, ability to think in multiple futures rather than single predictions, and capacity to recognize different timeframes simultaneously. It's about how you conceptualize the future itself. Second, super shift awareness. This dimension assesses your understanding of the major transformative forces reshaping our world. How well do you recognize the nine super shifts we've explored? Can you identify their potential impacts across different domains? Are you tracking their evolution and interactions? Third foresight methodology. This measures your practical capability with foresight tools and approaches. How effectively can you apply frameworks like the transform model or spectrum foresight method? Do you have structured processes for scanning, scenario development and strategic application? Fourth systems integration. This dimension evaluates how well you've integrated futures thinking into your ongoing systems and processes. Have you established a futures operating system? Is foresight connected to decision making, planning and innovation processes? How systematically do you sense, interpret and respond to signals of change? Five adaptive capacity, finally. This measures your ability to actually respond to change effectively. You have the resources, agility and resilience to adapt when needed. Can you not only anticipate change, but successfully navigate it? This is where foresight meets practical action. These five dimensions together provide a comprehensive picture of future readiness. Let's assess each one in turn. Assessment 1. Futures Literacy let's begin by assessing your futures literacy, your fundamental ability to think about and engage with the future. Exercise Futures Literacy Self-Assessment Rate yourself on a scale of 1 to 5 for each of these aspects of futures literacy.
Speaker 2:Multiple Futures Thinking One Equals. I typically think about the future as a single path we're heading toward. Three equals I sometimes consider alternative futures when making important decisions. Five equals. I habitually explore multiple divergent possibilities when thinking about any future topic. Temporal intelligence One equals. I focus primarily on immediate timeframes days, weeks, months. Three equals. I can shift between short, medium and long-term thinking when prompted. Five equals. I regularly connect immediate actions to medium and long-term implications.
Speaker 2:Comfort with uncertainty 1 equals. Uncertainty makes me uncomfortable. I prefer clear predictions and plans. 3 equals. I accept uncertainty as inevitable but try to minimize it when possible. 5 equals. I'm comfortable navigating uncertainty and see it as a space of possibility. Awareness of assumptions 1 equals. I'm comfortable navigating uncertainty and see it as a space of possibility. Awareness of assumptions One equals. I rarely question my assumptions about how the future will unfold. Three equals. I can identify my assumptions when specifically prompted to do so. Five equals I habitually notice and challenge my own and others' future assumptions. Five equals I habitually notice and challenge my own and others' future assumptions. Balanced perspective. One equals I tend toward either consistently optimistic or consistently pessimistic views of the future. Three equals I can consider both opportunities and challenges when prompted. Five equals I naturally maintain a balanced view of future possibilities, either naively optimistic nor defensively pessimistic.
Speaker 2:Calculate your average score across these five aspects. This gives you a baseline assessment of your futures literacy. Interpreting your score 1-2 equals emerging futures literacy opportunity for significant development. 2-3 equals developing futures literacy solid foundation with clear growth areas. 3-4 equals advancing futures literacy strong capability with room for refinement. Four to five equals exemplary futures literacy sophisticated thinking, continued deepening. Remember this isn't about judgment, it's about honest self-awareness. Even expert futurists have areas where they can keep growing and developing.
Speaker 2:Assessment two super shift awareness. Now let's assess your awareness of the major transformative forces reshaping our world. Exercise SuperShift Awareness Mapping. For each of the nine SuperShifts, rate your current level of understanding and engagement on a scale of 1 to 5. One equals minimal awareness have heard of it but don't understand its significance. Two equals basic awareness understand the general concept. Three equals working knowledge can explain key aspects and some implications. Four equals comprehensive understanding can articulate detailed dynamics and interconnections. Five equals expert engagement actively tracking evolution and applying insights. Expert engagement actively tracking evolution and applying insights.
Speaker 2:The nine super shifts to assess generational drift. Demographic and cultural realignment. Telefusion, convergence of human and machine intelligence. Techceleration, exponential acceleration of technological development. Reality remix blending of physical and digital experiences. Power flow, transformation of energy systems. Eco-awakening shift towards sustainability and regeneration. Social quake, upheaval of social structures and governance. World mosaic, fragmentation of global power. Bio-nexus fusion of biology and technology. Now analyze your pattern of awareness. Which super shifts do you understand most thoroughly? Which ones have significant gaps in your understanding? Are there patterns to your awareness, eg stronger on technological shifts than social ones? How well do you understand the interactions between different super shifts? This mapping helps you identify where to focus your learning and development. Remember, no one needs expert-level understanding of all nine shifts, but a working knowledge of their broad implications and interconnections is valuable for comprehensive futures thinking Assessment. 3. Foresight Methodology. Next, let's assess your practical capability with foresight tools and frameworks. Exercise Methodology Capability Assessment. Rate your proficiency with key foresight methodologies and practices on a scale of one to five Signal scanning One equals I rarely look for emerging signals of change.
Speaker 2:Three equals I periodically look for signals in familiar domains. Five equals. I have structured scanning practices across diverse domains and sources. Trend analysis One equals. I have difficulty distinguishing trends from fads or connecting signals to larger patterns. 3 equals. I can identify significant trends when presented with relevant information. 5 equals. I routinely connect diverse signals into meaningful trend patterns and anticipate trajectory Scenario development 1 equals.
Speaker 2:I have little experience creating future scenarios. 3 equals. I can develop basic scenarios when guided through a process. Five equals. I regularly create robust, nuanced scenarios that challenge assumptions and explore multiple dimensions. Spectrum layer analysis one equals. I'm unfamiliar with layered analysis of futures. Three equals. I understand the concept and can apply it in structured settings. Five equals. I habitually analyze futures across multiple layers, revealing deeper dynamics and connections. Strategic application one equals. I struggle to connect futures thinking to practical decisions. Three equals. I can apply futures insights to strategy when the connections are clear. Five equals. I systematically integrate futures thinking into strategic planning and decision making. Adaptive planning One equals. My plans are generally fixed with limited contingencies. Three equals. I build some flexibility into plans to accommodate possible changes. Five equals. I design inherently adaptive strategies that can evolve across multiple possible futures.
Speaker 2:Calculate your average score across these six capabilities.
Speaker 2:This gives you a baseline assessment of your methodological proficiency, interpreting your score. 1 to 2 equals emerging capability. Focus development needed. 2 to 3 equals developing capability practice will strengthen effectiveness. 3 to 4 equals advancing capability. Refinement will enhance application. 4 to 5 equals exemplary capability continue deepening through advanced practice. For areas where you scored lower, consider which specific foresight tools or frameworks from our series might help strengthen that capability Assessment. Four systems integration. Now let's assess how well you've integrated futures thinking in ongoing systems and processes. Exercise futures operating system assessment. This assessment looks at whether you've established the key components of a futures operating system, either personally or organizationally. Rate the development of each component on a scale of 1 to 5. Scanning and pattern recognition One equals signals are rarely analyzed for patterns or implications. Three equals Some analysis occurs, but isn't consistently translated into insights. Five equals structured sense-making processes regularly transform signals into actionable insights. Scenario development and testing One equals Future scenarios are rarely developed or used. Three equals Scenario development and testing, thank you. Influences, decisions or outcomes three equals Some reflection occurs, but isn't structured for continuous improvement. Five equals Robust feedback mechanisms ensure continuous learning and adaptation. Capability development one equals Little investment in building futures capacity. Three equals Some training or development occurs but isn't comprehensive. Five equals Systematic development of futures capabilities across relevant stakeholders. Calculate your average score across these six components. This gives you a baseline assessment of your futures operating system, interpreting your score. One to two equals emerging system Key components need development. Two to three equals developing system. Foundation exists but needs strengthening. Three to four equals advancing system strong framework with opportunities for enhancement. Four to five equals exemplary system comprehensive, continue refining and evolving. This assessment helps you identify which system components most need attention to create a more integrated futures practice Assessment. Five adaptive capacity. Finally, let's assess your actual ability to respond effectively to change. The ultimate test of future readiness Exercise adaptive capacity evaluation. Rate your adaptive capacity across these key dimensions on a scale of one to five. Learning agility One equals I struggle to acquire new skills or adapt to changing circumstances. I can learn and adapt when necessary. Though it takes effort, I rapidly acquire new capabilities and thrive in changing conditions. 1. My resources time, money, attention are fully committed, with little flexibility. 3. I have some resource flexibility to respond to new opportunities or challenges. Five equals I intentionally maintain significant resource flexibility for adaptation. Network strength one equals my professional and personal networks are limited or homogeneous. Three equals I have moderately diverse networks that provide some support during change. Five equals I maintain robust, diverse networks that provide resources, insights and support. Decision velocity one equals I typically take a long time to make decisions, especially under uncertainty. Three equals I can make reasonably timely decisions when necessary. Five equals I make appropriate decisions quickly, even amid ambiguity and rapid change. Experimental mindset One equals I rarely experiment or try new approaches. Three equals I'm willing to experiment in low-risk situations. Five equals I regularly conduct strategic experiments to learn and adapt. Resilience and recovery One equals setbacks Significantly disrupt my progress and recovery is slow. Three equals I can recover from setbacks with moderate effort. 5 equals I bounce back quickly from challenges and often emerge stronger. Calculate your average score across these six dimensions. This gives you a baseline assessment of your adaptive capacity. Interpreting your score 1 to 2 equals emerging capacity. Focus development needed. 2 to 3 equals developing capacity building greater adaptability. 3 to 4 equals developing capacity building greater adaptability. Three to four equals advancing capacity strong foundation with room for enhancement. Four to five equals exemplary capacity robust ability to navigate change. This assessment helps you identify specific aspects of adaptive capacity that might need strengthening to improve your overall future readiness.
Speaker 2:Comprehensive future readiness profile. Improve your overall future readiness. Comprehensive future readiness profile. Now that you've assessed all five dimensions, it's time to create your comprehensive future readiness profile. This provides a holistic view of your current capabilities and development opportunities. Exercise Creating your future readiness profile. Transfer your average scores from each dimension to create your profile Futures Literacy, supershift, awareness, foresight Methodology.
Speaker 2:Underscore underscore. Underscore. Systems Integration Underscore. Underscore. Underscore. Adaptive Capacity Blank. Visualize your profile by creating a simple radar spider chart with these five dimensions. This makes it easy to see your relative strengths and development areas at a glance. Identify your standout strengths highest scores and primary development opportunities. Lowest scores. Reflect on the relationships between dimensions. For example strong futures literacy, but weak methodology. Focus on learning. Practical tools Strong methodology, but weak. Systems integration. Focus on embedding practices. Strong across most dimensions, but weak adaptive capacity. Focus on implementation. Your future readiness profile isn't about achieving perfect scores across all dimensions. Rather, it's about understanding your current capabilities and prioritizing development efforts for maximum impact.
Speaker 2:Organizational future readiness If you're leading or influencing an organization, let's also assess its collective future readiness. Exercise organizational future readiness assessment. Rate your organization on these key dimensions of future readiness on a scale of one to five. Strategic foresight integration key dimensions of future readiness on a scale of one to five. Strategic foresight integration One equals foresight is not part of our strategic processes. Three equals some foresight activities occur but aren't systematically integrated. Five equals foresight is deeply embedded in our strategic planning and decision making.
Speaker 2:Cultural adaptability One equals. Our culture resists change and clings to tradition. 3 equals our culture accepts necessary change but prefers stability. 5 equals. Our culture embraces change as opportunity and thrives amid transformation. One equals we invest little in developing future-ready capabilities. Three equals we provide some development opportunities, but without strategic focus. Five equals we systematically develop capabilities aligned with future requirements. Resource allocation One equals Our resources are fully committed to current operations. Three equals we allocate some resources to future-oriented initiatives. Five equals we strategically balance resources between present operations and future positioning.
Speaker 2:Leadership Orientation one equals. Our leadership focuses primarily on short-term performance. Three equals Our leadership acknowledges future challenges but prioritizes immediate concerns. Five equals. Our leadership actively balances short-term prioritizes immediate concerns. Five equals. Our leadership actively balances short-term execution with long-term positioning.
Speaker 2:Ecosystem awareness One equals we have limited awareness of changes in our broader ecosystem. Three equals we track major developments in our immediate industry or sector. Five equals we systematically monitor diverse signals across our extended ecosystem. Calculate your organization's average score across these six dimensions. This gives you a baseline assessment of its collective future readiness. Interpreting your score one to two equals emerging readiness significant development needed. Two to three equals developing readiness foundation exists but needs strengthening. Three to four equals advancing readiness Strong position with clear enhancement opportunities. Four to five equals exemplary readiness Robust capabilities Continue refining and evolving. This assessment helps you identify organizational development priorities to strengthen collective future readiness.
Speaker 2:Foresight Maturity Assessment. Now let's evaluate the overall maturity of your foresight practice, integrating both personal and organizational dimensions. Exercise foresight maturity evaluation. Consider these five maturity levels and determine which best describes your current state. Level one ad hoc Futures thinking happens sporadically, if at all. No systematic processes or tools. Focus primarily on immediate timeframes. Reactive approach to change. Level two awareness, thank you. Primarily reactive, with some anticipation. Level three structured, regular foresight activities using defined methods. Connection to some decision processes. Balance of short and medium-term perspectives. Mix of reactive and proactive approaches. Level four integrated, systematic foresight embedded in key processes. Clear influence on strategy and planning. Balance time horizons from immediate to long-term. Primarily proactive, with strong adaptive capacity. Level five transformative Foresight fully integrated into operating model. Shapes organizational identity and purpose. Seamless connection between timeframes. Adaptive, resilient and transformation ready, based on your assessments across previous exercises, determine your current maturity level and identify what would be required to advance to the next level.
Speaker 2:Developing your future readiness roadmap. Now it's time to synthesize all these assessments into a practical roadmap for strengthening your future readiness Exercise future readiness development planning. Identify your top three development priorities based on your assessments. These should be the areas where improvement would most significantly enhance your overall future readiness. For each priority, define a clear development goal, specific actions or practices to strengthen this area. Resources or support you'll need. How you'll measure progress. Create a timeline for development with immediate actions Next 30 days. Near-term development one to three months. Ongoing practices continuous. Identify accountability mechanisms. How will you track your progress? Who might support your development? How will you maintain momentum? The goal is to create a focused, actionable plan that strengthens your future readiness in meaningful ways, rather than trying to improve everything at once. Final Reflections as we complete this comprehensive future readiness assessment, remember that this is a journey, not a destination.
Speaker 2:Future readiness isn't a fixed state to achieve once and for all. It's an ongoing practice of developing capabilities, systems and mindsets that allow you to navigate change effectively. The assessments you've completed today provide a snapshot of where you stand right now. They're not judgments or predictions. They're tools for self-awareness and intentional development. Everyone, including experienced futurists, has areas where they can continue growing and strengthening their capabilities. Here are three key principles to carry forward Balance, breadth and depth.
Speaker 2:You don't need to excel at everything. It's valuable to have broad awareness across multiple dimensions, while developing deeper expertise in areas most relevant to your specific context and goals. Connect, knowing and doing. Future readiness isn't just about understanding concepts. It's about applying them. Look for ways to integrate what you're learning into practical action, even in small ways.
Speaker 2:Embrace continuous development. The landscape of change continues to evolve, requiring ongoing development of your capabilities and approaches. Build regular reflection and learning into your practice. Your challenge here's my challenge for you this week. Share your future readiness assessment with at least one trusted colleague, friend or mentor. Ask for their perspective on your self-assessment and development priorities. Often, others can see strengths and opportunities that we miss in ourselves. Additionally, commit to one specific practice from your development plan to implement immediately. Don't wait for the perfect time to start strengthening your future readiness. Begin right where you are, with what you have. In our next episode, we'll explore the future's fluent mindset, the emotional, cognitive and strategic qualities that define future fluency, beyond just tools and methods. Until then, continue reflecting, developing and, as always, think forward.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to the Think Forward podcast. You can find us on all the major podcast platforms and at wwwthinkforwardshowcom, as well as on YouTube under Think Forward Show. See you next time.
