Changing behavior is essential before shifting mindset, especially when navigating crises. Teams should allocate 10% to 20% of their time to focus on future-oriented discussions, even under pressure. The timeframe for these discussions may vary depending on the industry, ranging from a few years to over a decade. Engaging in structured conversations is necessary, avoiding daydreaming, and instead focusing on the hard work of analyzing trends and consumer directions. Understanding how trends converge and identifying points of inflection are crucial for fostering effective and forward-thinking dialogue.
Some managers develop strategy by focusing on problems in the present, and that’s especially true during a crisis.
But Mark Johnson, co-founder of the innovation consulting firm Innosight, argues that leaders should imagine the future and then work backward to build their organization for that new reality.
In this episode, he outlines the practical steps managers can take to look beyond the typical short-term planning horizon and help their teams grasp future opportunities. Johnson also shares real-world examples from Apple, Johnson & Johnson, and Intel to illustrate what can happen when leaders shift their strategic mindset to focus on the future.
Key episode topics include: strategy, innovation, decision making and problem solving, growth strategy, crisis leadership, managing teams.
HBR On Strategy curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock new ways of doing business. New episodes every week.
· Listen to the original HBR IdeaCast episode: To Build Strategy, Start with the Future (2020)
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