Future Mindset

The Future Mindset is the attitude of focusing on success in an unknown future. 

It acknowledges a general unpredictability of environments that is amplified by increasing connectivity, rapid accumulated advantage effects and other network phenomena, as well as, ironically, efforts of prediction (cf. Black Swan).

In contrast to risk aversion—the typical reaction to uncertainty—, leaders with the Future Mindset prepare for an unknown future by:

• acknowledging the unpredictability of this future while still emphasizing a long-term perspective
• practicing network thinking (as opposed to linear thinking) and developing an understanding of systems theory
• improving their organization’s capability and willingness to adapt
• creating an innovation culture powered by divergent thinking
• applying active error management throughout their organization