"Future Cultures" authors Scott Smith and Susan Cox-Smith discuss integrating strategic futures thinking into organizations, emphasizing mapping current networks and cultivating diverse champions. Starting small with regular gatherings and writing future scenarios are recommended tactics. Their book provides a methodical guide for leadership to adopt prospective practices tailored to their existing culture. It emphasizes starting small, embedding foresight into operations, and building demand for innovation and resilience.
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Quick takeaways
'Future Cultures' focuses on integrating futures thinking into existing organizational contexts by understanding and mapping current networks and processes.
'Future Cultures' recommends starting small with regular gatherings to share signals of change and writing future scenarios to envision desired cultures.
Deep dives
Importance of the book 'Future Cultures'
The podcast episode discusses the book 'Future Cultures' written by Scott Smith and Susan Cox Smith. The book is considered a leadership guide that focuses on culture and organizational dynamics. It aims to help individuals navigate the challenges of implementing future-oriented thinking and strategies within their organizations. The authors emphasize the value of understanding the current organizational DNA and finding ways to work with existing structures and cultures rather than trying to impose radical change. The book provides case studies and practical tactics for integrating futures thinking into everyday work to create a more futures-oriented mindset.
Combining different approaches in 'How to Future' and 'Future Cultures'
The podcast explores the relationship between the books 'How to Future' and 'Future Cultures' by Scott Smith and Susan Cox Smith. While 'How to Future' is described as a textbook-like guide that introduces tools and approaches for futures thinking, 'Future Cultures' serves as a leadership book that addresses the challenge of spreading futures thinking throughout an organization. The authors explain that the second book was inspired by the experiences and feedback they received from the first book. They discuss the importance of providing guidance on how to apply futures thinking in real-world organizational contexts, helping individuals navigate the change and make a meaningful impact within their organizations.
Key tactics for successful implementation of futures thinking
The podcast episode highlights various tactics and approaches for successfully implementing futures thinking. The conversation emphasizes the need to understand the specific cultural context of each organization and work with existing structures and practices. The authors stress the importance of starting small and simple, creating spaces and rituals for sharing signals of change, and building networks of like-minded individuals within the organization. They also discuss the significance of creating alignment with other organizations that share similar values and goals. The podcast stresses the need to work with the reality on the ground and adapt to the specific challenges and dynamics of each organization.
Encouraging a cultural shift towards futures-oriented thinking
The podcast episode emphasizes the need for a cultural shift within organizations to embrace futures-oriented thinking. The authors argue that such a shift requires a change in mindset, language, and norms throughout the organization. They discuss the importance of recognizing and developing a futures-oriented posture and encouraging an attitude of embracing change and uncertainty. The conversation highlights the role of leadership in creating a cultural context that supports and enables the integration of futures thinking. Overall, the podcast underlines the holistic nature of the cultural shift needed to fully engage with and implement futures-oriented strategies.
Scott and Susan's new book, Future Cultures, focuses on integrating futures thinking into existing organizational contexts rather than forcing entirely new practices. They emphasize understanding and mapping current networks, language, and processes first and identifying and cultivating diverse champions at multiple levels to spread ideas. In the book, they recommend starting small with regular gatherings to share signals of change. They also provide tactics like writing future scenarios to envision desired cultures. Their framework layers in complexity to meet an organization's specific readiness.
We had a great conversation, discussing the way Future Cultures reveals a practical approach for integrating strategic futures thinking into organizations. It includes case studies and a layered framework, providing leadership with a methodical guide to adopt prospective practices tailored to their existing culture. By starting small to build demand and embedding foresight into operations, executives can complement planning with futures-oriented capacity vital for innovation and resilience.