In times of crisis, business leaders often fall into the trap of a present-forward approach, focusing on immediate market signals and operational challenges. However, a future-back strategy is essential for effective leadership. This perspective involves envisioning the anticipated future and then working backward to devise strategies, ensuring an organization is prepared for upcoming changes. While managing current operations is necessary, allocating time to think strategically about the future can lead to breakthrough growth and better decision-making, positioning the organization for success in an uncertain environment.
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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