communicating in an uncertain future

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In this engaging presentation to the Senior Communicators Council of the International Association of Business Communicators' DC Metro chapter, Eric Meade introduced scenarios as a way of thinking about future uncertainties. He then presented a set of scenarios of technology and society in the year 2030 that he had recently developed with colleagues at the nonprofit Institute for Alternative Futures. Eric explored with participants the implications of each scenario for business communicators. The 2030 scenarios include: -An expectable future: big data and social networks combine to create high-quality knowledge technologies, but leaders fail to use them to address the grand challenges of the 21st century. -A challenging future: a small number of powerful entities create and control advanced analytics that turn information into knowledge, but most people lack access to these sophisticated tools for sense-making in a complex world. -A visionary future: leaders create a highly integrated global brain that is accessible to all, combining advanced analytics and human expertise to generate knowledge and wisdom. -A surprisingly successful future where rising unemployment and generational transition undermine hierarchical organizations that are unable to reinvent themselves as semi-autonomous networks.

TRANSCRIPT

Eric Meadewww.ericmeade.com

ericmeade@gmail.comIABC DC Chapter

April 23, 2014

COMMUNICATING IN AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE

A COUPLE QUESTIONS

• What do you already know about communicating in the future?

• What three questions about communicating in the future would you love to have answered today?

The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.

LINEAR

OUR IDEAS ABOUT CHANGE HAVE EVOLVED

S-CURVE

OUR IDEAS ABOUT CHANGE HAVE EVOLVED

COMPLEX

Rational mind

Intuitive mind

OUR IDEAS ABOUT CHANGE HAVE EVOLVED

2-5 years

5-20 yearsWhat our “rational minds” think may only be plausible within:

May actually occur in only:

THE CONSEQUENCES?

• Alternative stories about the future• They bound uncertainty and explore major

pathways, some of which go beyond current expectations

• Their value to the:

Rational Mind Intuitive Mind

• Understand changes already underway

• Consider alternative outcomes

• Clarify assumptions so they can be tested

• Confound the rational mind to make room for the intuitive mind

• Relax assumptions• Provide a context

for developing a vision

SCENARIOS: WHAT AND WHY?

This is the Aspirational Futures method developed by the Institute for Alternative Futures.

There are other methods for getting into this intuitive space.

• Always!!!• Specific situations:

– An organization is unprepared.– An organization is vulnerable.– A new leader arrives.– The old business model doesn’t work anymore.– Energy and morale are low.– An organization is starting to feel stale or

irrelevant.

WHEN IS THE FUTURE RELEVANT?

FOUR SCENARIOS ON TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY• Smart

Technologies, Missed Opportunities

• Info, Info Everywhere (and not a drop to drink)

• An Integrated Knowledge Network

• Distributed Talent for Good

SCENARIO 1

SMART TECHNOLOGIES, MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

SCENARIO 1

SMART TECHNOLOGIES, MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

SCENARIO 1

SMART TECHNOLOGIES, MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

IN THIS SCENARIO…

• What is the role of the business communicator?• What skills and aptitudes are most important for

the business communicator to have?

SCENARIO 2

INFO, INFO EVERYWHERE(AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK)

SCENARIO 2

INFO, INFO EVERYWHERE(AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK)

SCENARIO 2

INFO, INFO EVERYWHERE(AND NOT A DROP TO DRINK)

IN THIS SCENARIO…

• What is the role of the business communicator?• What skills and aptitudes are most important for

the business communicator to have?

SCENARIO 3

AN INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

SCENARIO 3

AN INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

SCENARIO 3

AN INTEGRATED KNOWLEDGE NETWORK

IN THIS SCENARIO…

• What is the role of the business communicator?• What skills and aptitudes are most important for

the business communicator to have?

SCENARIO 4

DISTRIBUTED TALENT FOR GOOD

SCENARIO 4

DISTRIBUTED TALENT FOR GOOD

SCENARIO 4

DISTRIBUTED TALENT FOR GOOD

IN THIS SCENARIO…

• What is the role of the business communicator?• What skills and aptitudes are most important for

the business communicator to have?

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