In the great book on innovation, Thinkertoys, Michalko states “Because the future is not linear, you cannot prepare for it with one single plan.” This statement sums up what most leaders understand in regards to their need to be highly agile when it comes to both the planning of their strategies, but more so in the execution of them. Seldom do things work out in the exact manner in which we might hope and plan they would, so it is always critical to have not only a plan B ready to go, but plans C, D, and more, just in case nothing goes as you envisioned they would.
This is where Michalko’s comment about the future being non-linear comes in. Many people know me as one who likes to have my plans in place and arranged in such a way that I can sleep at night. However, I’ve learned how pointless definitive plans can become because the future is not a straight line, but rather a swirling blob of possibilities that could easily take a thousand different paths. We must plan for our plan to not work out! We must be ready and agile to adjust moment to moment as circumstances change.
If you view the future in the context of space, where one can travel in an infinite amount directions, it will help you to make plans that can change in a heartbeat as new information presents itself. I’ve had to learn this the hard way and it hasn’t always been pleasant. However, it’s a lesson that I encourage all leaders to embrace, because our future, this side of heaven, isn’t going to become more clear, but rather, less. We must be able to adapt and overcome whatever comes our way. In the end, those who can change their plans to adjust to changing circumstances will come out ahead. Leaders embrace change. Leaders adjust and adapt. Leaders have multiple plans ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Lead well.