We make decisions all day long. When a decision is taken there are always consequences. Future consequences that happen after the decision is made. These possible consequences are possible futures.
These many possible futures may be called by scientists the many parallel universes or the multiverse. Whether or not the multiverse theory is true it’s a useful metaphor.
If we don’t choose the universe we want to be in then it may be chosen by others for us. Or worse, by random drift and circumstance.
So, the TPF is the deliberate thinking effort we make in our PFC to explore possible futures so we may choose the ones we want to be in. cvs2bvs.
There are, of course, a virtually unlimited number of possible futures facing us at any particular moment in time (called NOW) but so many futures may be too daunting to think about. So, let’s just limit our choice of options to three.
The TPF is the PFC brain app which shows that at any time you are faced with a decision there are always at least three possible futures from which to choose.
Usually there is the most likely future which will turn out to be the obvious decision you are most likely to take. Then there are other options, alternatives, possibilities or choices you may or may not consider. This week we’ll practise the TPF each day considering three possible futures, three possibilities.
You are the expert
The eminent American management guru, Peter Drucker, pointed out–you, the individual paid-thinker, are the world expert at your particular job.
So, in this DFQ I’d like to ask you to have a think and then describe three possible futures for your own job.
x10 Idea?
Perhaps you have an x10 idea can lead to revenue possibilities or to cost-savings. Or a different way of doing things. Have a go at estimating potential numbers #, dollars $, and percentages % that may result from your x10 idea. Your possible futures might be inside the box or x10 outside the box. There are no right answers! Your time frame might be immediate, medium term or long term.
DFQ #06: What three possible futures are there for your own job?
1
2
3
1. Continue wfh in the eastern suburbs
2. Move up to the northern beaches and wfh there and have a better lifestyle
3. Move up to the central coast and wfh there and have an even better lifestyle
1. x10 increase in scientific platform for plant sciences
2. x10 opportunities to increase collaboration and publications
3. x10 opportunities and interest to invest in AVR R&D in plant sciences
1. Embrace and learn technological change and recognise opportunity in uncertainty.
2. Work virtually with sophisticated collaboration technologies, saving DJPR money on office space and many other expenses.
3. Combine research and data science to drive decision making and inform strategy.
Three possible futures for my own job are:
1. I continue to use cvs2bvs to increase efficiencies and productivities in my role by increments of 10. This could include producing centralised resources that facilitate faster decision making.
2. I move to a different job and my organisation and the new candidate benefit from the increases in efficiencies and productivities to date
3. My job is no longer needed and I move to another job where I can implement cvs2bvs thinking.
1) Do the minimum to ‘get by’ (always a ‘possible’ option for the future)
2) Engender collaboration between disparate parts of AVR to contribute to a more strategic view of our work that can benefit more than just one team, group or location.
3) Model collaborative behaviours for junior staff to build a culture of cooperation rather than competition.
1. Become involved in a new line of research using new ways of thinking
2. Identify one aspect to work on
3. Continue on with current thinking and make steady progress
1. Continue with more of the same and current rate of growth (dangerous as this is standing still which will result in going backwards relative to others)
2. Investigate new collaborations/funding opportunities to identify potential new solutions to problems and diversity and grow investment streat.
3. Empower team to contribute more strongly to ideas and encourage development of less conservative ideas.
1. Do what I do to achieve my goal
2. Do what I do smarter to achieve my goal more effectively
3. Select a different goal to achieve a better outcome
1. Continue with current systems and thinking.
2. Implement small incremental changes to achieve an achievable level of improvement.
3. Utilise data, tools, ideas to R&D how we do things, look past the incremental change to outside the box, x10 change
1. Continue with the current line of thought
2. Applying CVS to BVS and ensuring continuous improvement
3. Look at developing not only myself but my team, which will also facilitate my own development. The premise of this is a quote from Benjamin Franklin “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”