8 FUTURES

THINKING
APTITUDES
At a personal and organizational level

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Futures thinking is the foundation
of how we understand change,
imagine possibilities and make
decisions.

It comprises several aptitudes,

which will be more or less present
in all of us.

What follows is an explanation of

what the aptitudes provide at a
personal and organizational
level, followed by some
suggestions on how to cultivate
them.
 The 8 Aptitudes
Aptitude Personal Level Organizational Level

Curiosity Seeking new Encouraging

experiences, learning innovation, exploring
opportunities new markets and
technologies
Critical Thinking Making well- Analyzing business
reasoned decisions in situations logically to
personal life guide strategic
decisions
Creativity Solving personal Developing
challenges innovative products,
creatively, thinking of services, and business
new ideas models
Open-mindedness Being receptive to Embracing diverse
new life perspectives viewpoints, adapting
and opportunities to market and
cultural shifts
Strategic Foresight Planning for personal Long-term business
future scenarios planning,
anticipating market
changes
Systems Thinking Understanding the Seeing the bigger
impact of personal picture in business,
decisions in the understanding how
broader context of different parts of the
one's life organization interact
Resilience Bouncing back from Recovering from
personal setbacks market downturns,
organizational
challenges
Collaboration Building strong Fostering teamwork,
personal and partnerships, and
professional networks collaboration across
departments
 CULTIVATING THE
APTITUDES

Recognizing the aptitudes in

yourself and your organization is
important, but so much the
better if we can improve them.

As you’ll see, there is some

overlap between the aptitudes.
Our minds need categories to
make sense of the world, but in
reality there is overlap,
contradiction and paradox. We
should explore those elements.
 CURIOSITY

Personal Level
• Engage in diverse experiences
• Read widely on various topics
• Ask questions to understand different
viewpoints

Organizational Level
• Foster a culture of learning and
exploration
• Encourage employees to attend
workshops and conferences
• Promote cross-departmental
interactions
 CRITICAL THINKING

Personal Level
• Practice reflective thinking
• Challenge assumptions and biases
• Engage in problem-solving activities

Organizational Level
• Conduct regular strategy review
sessions
• Encourage questioning of processes
and decisions
• Implement training in analytical and
critical thinking
 CREATIVITY

Personal Level Cultivation

• Explore creative hobbies and
activities
• Brainstorm regularly to generate
new ideas
• Expose yourself to different cultures
and arts

Organizational Level Cultivation

• Set up brainstorming and ideation
sessions
• Encourage risk-taking in idea
generation
• Create diverse teams to bring in
varied perspectives
 OPEN-MINDEDNESS

Personal Level
• Actively seek out and consider
different viewpoints
• Be willing to change your opinion
based on new information
• Travel and explore different cultures

Organizational Level
• Promote a diverse and inclusive
workplace
• Encourage open dialogues and
feedback
• Implement policies that support
flexibility and change
 STRATEGIC FORESIGHT

Personal Level
• Set personal long-term goals
• Regularly review and adjust your life
plan
• Stay informed about trends and
changes in your field

Organizational Level
• Engage in regular strategic planning
sessions
• Use scenario planning and
forecasting tools
• Monitor industry trends and adapt
strategies accordingly
 SYSTEMS THINKING

Personal Level
• Practice seeing how your actions
affect your life and others
• Study the interconnectedness of
various aspects of your life
• Engage in activities that require
coordination and balance

Organizational Level
• Implement cross-functional teams
and projects
• Use tools for mapping and
understanding organizational
systems
• Encourage holistic thinking about
business decisions
 RESILIENCE

Personal Level
• Develop coping mechanisms for
stress
• Setbacks should be viewed as
learning opportunities
• Maintain a supportive social
network

Organizational Level
• Create policies that support
employee well-being
• Encourage open discussion about
failures as growth opportunities
• Develop contingency plans for
business setbacks
 COLLABORATION

Personal Level
• Participate in group activities and
team sports
• Network and build relationships
across different areas
• Seek feedback and collaborate on
personal projects

Organizational Level
• Facilitate team-building activities
• Use collaborative tools and
platforms for projects
• Promote cross-departmental
collaborations and knowledge
sharing
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