The Future Is Not About What, But How

As I make my way to Johannesburg for the fourth talk on my EO tour, I can’t help but feel a sense of frustration. I’ve noticed a trend among speakers, authors, and thought leaders who are passionate about sharing what needs to happen in the future but not how to make it happen. In a world where information is readily available, the focus should shift from “what” needs to be done to “how” to make it happen.

The Irrelevance of “What” in the Face of Rapid Change

Trend specialists and futurists excel at predicting the future and presenting it to organizations and executive teams. However, in a world where trends change at a rapid rate, the “what” becomes irrelevant for two reasons:

1. The pace of change: The top 10 trends this quarter may be irrelevant in the near future, making it challenging for executive teams to keep up.

2. Accessibility to information: With platforms like Google and TikTok, anyone can access trend reports and information, making it less valuable in the grand scheme of things.

The Imperative of “How” in Adapting to Change

Neuroscience has shown that we have between 60 and 70 thousand thoughts daily, 90% the same as the previous day. This means that regardless of how many trend reports, speakers, or books we encounter, our inability to change our behavior hinders our ability to apply new principles and theories.

So, what becomes relevant in the face of constant change is “how.” How do we become adaptable? How do we unlearn? How do we shift our thinking to be more courageous and innovative? This is where the focus should lie for executives and leaders looking to navigate the future successfully.

Revealing Neuroscience Discovery

Neuroscience lies at the core of adaptability and unlearning. Understanding how the brain operates and how we can unlearn behaviors is crucial to becoming naturally more adaptable. We need to ask ourselves these fundamental questions to avoid simply consuming information without applying it effectively.

Conclusion

As I reflect on the importance of “how” in the face of constant change, I urge executives and leaders to shift their focus from “what” needs to be done to “how” it can be achieved. Embracing adaptability and unlearning is key to navigating the future successfully, and it all comes down to understanding the imperative of “how.”

Note: This blog post is an adaptation of the transcript from the video below.