3 ground rules, 3 simple questions, and an artifact to help you think about your post-COVID futures

co-written by Maggie Greyson and Kate Ruff Assistant Professor, Sprott School of Business, Carleton University; Lead, Common Approach to Impact Measurement

Both Maggie and David are huge fans of Kate Ruff, Leader of the Common Approach to Impact Measurement. Luckily for Maggie, the two have been friends most of their lives. We just published our first professional collaboration to inspire those ready to think post-pandemic. In this first post they describe the process so that you too can try it - whatever your field. ​

Photo by Julius Drost on Unsplash

Imagining your business, your work, and the markets that you serve in a post-COVID future can be easier than you think.

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Futures and foresight work is something that mid- and large-sized businesses do to anticipate future trends so that they can be ready, respond, or lead into the brave new world. COVID19 has turned even small businesses — single location retailers, artists, studios and small charities — into futurists. Everyone is wondering ‘what now?’ ‘what next?’ and ‘where do I fit into this?’

Most futures and foresight work is data heavy. It requires reading widely, consulting widely and analyzing a lot of data. If you are up to that, you might want to start with reports from the World Economic Forum Global Future Councils, Policy Horizons Canada or Deloitte. The more data-intensive approaches can be used alongside the Making Futures Present technique that we describe here.

The Making Futures Present technique is a lighter approach and introduction to foresight work. It is well suited to small organizations and individuals because it draws on the proprietor’s creativity and lived knowledge. It is a simple, structured process for helping individuals to tap-into their own expectations, understandings, desires and opportunities. The process involves setting some parameters that create a safe space to explore the future, answering three questions, and engaging your senses to help you to imagine the future you want to come to life in the present.

​Here's what the Making Futures Present activity looks like, but we suggest reading the whole article. 

3 simple questions
1. What do you expect the future to be like?
2. What is unlikely?
3. What if the future is better than expected?

Remember the ground rules
1. You are going to survive and thrive in the future
2. Talk is safe.
3. There are no facts about the future.

And finally
Pick something practical you would use in the future and create a quick sketch or physical-tactile model of it to help you connect emotionally to the future that you want in the present.

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