The world in 2030: Think like a Dubai futurist

Ville’s 5 tips for managers/marketeers to spot key trends and incorporate them in their business plans

I like the old saying that in order to become interesting, be interested. Read as much as you can on diverse topics. Systems theorist Russell Ackoff has said that the greatest breakthroughs in science take place not within insiders looking at their own field but by outsiders looking at a field. Learn about advances in disciplines outside of your field of expertise and build teams with diverse backgrounds to get as many diverse views on the future. Embrace open flow of information, realise that everyone can be a teacher regardless of their role within the organisation. Making the right decisions is less important that having a culture of learning from mistakes. Learning how to learn will be the biggest single source of competitiveness in the new era of uncertainty. Also mapping a compelling vision and a preferred future for yourself and your organisation is the key, and then aligning your short-term plans to reach that preferred future and learning as you go and sharing those insights with others. In order to keep something, we must share it with others.

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