Exploring Future Directions

If nothing else, you can definitely count on change in life.

The philosopher Heraclitus is credited with saying the only thing that is constant in life is change.  Whether you run an entire organization or just a part of it, you face plenty of unknowns.  And this is true with both for profit and non-profit operations.  While your magic crystal ball may be in the shop, here are some forward looking questions will want to have answered to help guide planning and decision making.

• How will current events impact your industry and the constituents you serve?
• What commitments has your organization made which may be disrupted?
• Are there potential setbacks which may affect your operations and plans?
• What effects will unexpected change have on your current strategic directions and plans?

To be successful, it is important to explore what the future might look like and consider these questions.

Future events may impact your operations.

Let’s start with current events.  Did your organization pivot to deal with the pandemic?  How has this changed your operations and those of your clients?  How does a change in political leadership impact your industry? 

In terms of commitments, did you plan on funding an expansion and need to repurpose that money to another use?  Were you going to make a big splash at a trade show which didn’t happen and now you have to find another way to replace the business you thought would be generated at that event? 

Do you have contingency plans for business disruptions?  What if your computer systems are compromised or you are locked out of them?  Do you have a plan if you are hit with a tornado or hurricane and are without an office or power for an extended period of time?

When is the last time you looked at your strategic plan?  Have you taken these potential pitfalls into account so they don’t disrupt your operations for any longer than necessary and don’t derail your short and long term goals?

Get prepared.

One of the best ways to be prepared for these unknowns is to have an outside professional conduct a series of discussion with management, staff, customers and other stakeholders.  By having a dialogue on these topics with the appropriate people both inside and outside your organization, you can get the input and insights you need to develop plans to handle almost anything life may throw at your organization.  This way, you can be prepared to quickly adjust and face challenges head on.  It’s no fun scrambling to try to figure out how to deal with unexpected issues as you go along.  Remember, proper prior planning prevents poor performance.  Are you ready?  And be sure to recognize that this is a great way to evaluate your current strategy and direction even if no crisis comes our way.  You can also use this exercise to look at ideas you might have about new lines of business, expansion or additional locations. 

Do yourself a favor and address these potential challenges sooner rather than waiting until you have a crisis on your hands.