"We should all take an interest in our future. It's where professionals and organisations have to evolve to remain relevant"

Gerd Leonhard, a leading futurist, shares his main observations and foresight for the next ten years and what they might imply for geopolitics, international cooperation, and the work of development actors.

Gerd Leonhard
Neva Fark

Author

Neva
 
Fark
cinfo
Graduate Trainee 2021

cinfo’s “Immersion Days 2021” online event welcomed over 100 professionals and organisations from their Swiss headquarters or countries of operation to discuss the future of international cooperation. There were several talks by guest speakers in addition to themed workshops. Among the speakers was the futurist, Gerd Leonhard.
Learn more about the event

We are facing a future that will be more volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous with little influence or control over external factors. However, what you can control, is how you personally respond to those challenges. You will have to become more agile and resilient to tackle challenges such as climate change, new economic logic, or creating a fairer society. We already have the tools to face those future challenges. We don’t need to invent them; we just have to use and combine them in the most effective way. We can only achieve this through hyper-collaboration – collaboration across sectors – which requires, essentially, clear and thoughtful leadership.

We already have the tools to face future challenges. We just have to use and combine them in the most effective way.

Adapting to a fast-changing world also means constantly reassessing and reassembling what you do and how you do it. Suppose everything around you is changing but you still continue doing the same things as before. If that’s the case, you will quickly lag behind, finding yourself in “the valley of death”, or a period of stagnation an organisation faces until they transition and adapt. To reassess, reassemble and take action is challenging but essential; it requires resilience, creativity, courage and vision. We would never have thought that collaborating purely online was possible, but, due to covid, this is what we were forced to do. It became not only doable but a reality within the course of a few weeks.

Suppose everything around you is changing but you still continue doing the same things as before. If that’s the case, you will quickly lag behind.

International cooperation will be more important now than ever – but your organisation may have to transform radically to stay relevant. But how can we do this? Firstly, taking advantage of new technologies enables more efficient processes and communication – don’t be afraid to use it. Secondly, understanding that everything is converging: private sector, state agencies, NGOs and social enterprises come together to get things done. Use this opportunity to network and collaborate outside your networking bubble. Thirdly, become more transparent. People want to see what you are doing: focus on digital communication and demonstrate efficiency and results. If you are prepared for what is coming, your donors will see your competence and give you more funds. It’s as simple as that.

The key is paying attention to what is coming – to observe and understand what is happening right now. Dedicate 45 minutes per day by “listening to the future”, meaning reading new books and articles, listening to podcasts, watching videos etc. Pay attention and connect the dots. It often helps to take a step back to get a wider view. Some insights into a new sector or topic may give you new ideas or predictions for your own work. Social and emotional skills, as well as technological skills, are the skills of the future. Do you have people with those skills in your organisation? If not, you need to hire them! 

Social and emotional skills, as well as technological skills, are the skills of the future. Do you have people with those skills in your organisation? If not, hire them!