Page 29 - May 2020

FIELD NOTES

Finding Your Way

in An Uncertain Future

Norman Wolfe, PM5

We have witnessed an interesting paradox after customer’s needs as they show up.
speaking to many companies during these • Are you preparing for the future?
challenging times. The simultaneous need to • Are you able to create a path forward in these
hunker down to preserve what exists and also uncertain times, empowering your company

plan for an almost completely uncertain future. to make choices and respond to whatever
All of the companies are clearly responding to might show up?
the need to preserve, but not all are recognizing • Are you getting ahead of your competition,
the opportunity to prepare for the future. Are getting your company ready for what is to

you preparing yourself to respond quickly to the come?
needs of your customers, whatever that may be? Don’t let yourself be stopped by an uncertain
We are used to planning our future with a future. Start by knowing your reason for existing
certain amount of predictability based on what and who you serve. Accept the world as it shows

we have seen in the past. Many leaders will up, don’t try to force it back to the world you
assume that once the crisis subsides, we will used to know. See how the current situation
return to business as usual. Yet, the future is not is affecting those you serve. Then open to the
likely to be the same as the past. creative impulses of how your organization can

There is another way. Improvisation is the art move into the future that is emerging. You will
of responding in complete uncertainty. Planning end up right where you need to be without the
with an Improv-Mindset is the ability to respond need to know, plan, or control.
to whatever shows up in a way that aligns with Norman Wolfe, founder and CEO of Quantum Leaders,

and enhances your organization’s purpose. is a leading voice in bringing about a transformation of
Like people, companies have the opportunity the core paradigm of business. He is a 15-year veteran of
to stop and reflect on how they’ve been operating Hewlett Packard, has led companies large and small, been a

and who they want to be going forward. We have public company director, and has over 30 years consulting
worked with a number of companies helping and mentoring leaders in a wide range of industries.
them understand the story they are operating Wolfe is the author of The Living Organization,
from, gaining clarity about their core purpose, an application of the core principles of how the world
and how they might serve their customers in a works to how organizations (including families) and

new way. We call this Context Mapping. indivdiuals can create extraordinary impact.
With this as a foundation, the leaders and the Contact Norman at nwolfe@quantumleaders.com
company overall can tap into a deeper sense of to set up a free 30 minute consultation.
knowing, allowing them to pivot quickly to their Article reprinted with permission.

VOICES! | MAY 2020 29