Learning about Uncertainty
LinkedIn Post
3 Steps to Stay Motivated Amid Uncertainty
(Scenarios — Vivid Vision — Backcast Goals)
In a workshop with Graham Norris, I discovered the power of the Uncertainty Mindset. With an uncertainty mindset you:
↳ build on creating awareness
↳ activate imagination and
↳ creativity.
Embracing the unknown and being open to various future possibilities is key.
3 steps to cultivate an Uncertainty Mindset:
1️⃣ Think in Scenarios - Build Stories About Your Aspirational Future
Develop multiple scenarios to prepare for different futures:
→ What uncertainties exist?
→ Elaborate on implications
→ Name and describe each scenario
→ How old are you and others in your scenario?
→ Identify commonalities and differences across 4-5 scenarios
2️⃣ Make Your Vision Vivid
→ Create an aspirational future by embedding great experiences from your past
→ Reflect on what is within your control or influence
→ Make the future concrete
3️⃣ Backcast Your Goals
→ Work backwards from your long-term goal instead of starting from today
→ Start with the future and trace back to the present
By following these steps, we:
💡Enhance problem-solving
💡Prepare for different potential futures
💡Increase resilience by being psychologically prepared for uncertainty
💡Improve goal clarity and reduce constraints from immediate obstacles
What’s your go-to strategy for staying motivated in uncertain times?
Content preparation
3 steps how to stay Motivated amid Uncertainty (think Scenarios — vivid Vision — Backcast goals)
In a workshop with Graham Norris on the topic Staying Motivated Amid Uncertainty I learned about the Uncertainty mindset.
With an uncertainty mindset we build on creating awareness, activate imagination and creativity. I need to overcome my psychological allergy to uncertainty. And learn to embrace the unknown and being open to various future possibilities.
3 steps help to grow an uncertainty mindset: 1️⃣ Think in scenarios - build a story about your aspirational future To broaden your perspective, develop multiple scenarios to prepare for different futures.
You could start with:
- how old are you and others in your scenario
- what is the uncertainty (and what further uncertainty coexist)
- name and describe the scenario
- elaborate on implications
- think about 4-5 scenarios and look at commonalities and main differences
2️⃣ Make your vision vivid
- make it an ASPIRATIONAL future (e.g. by embedding great experiences from your past)
- make the future concrete
- reflect on what is in your control but at least your influence
3️⃣ Backcast on your goals
- work backwards from your longer term goal (instead of starting from today)
- instead of projecting from now to the future — start with the future and trace back
Through these 3 steps we:
- enhance Problem-Solving
- prepare for different potential futures
- improve goal clarity and are less constrained by immediate obstacles
- increase resilience by being psychologically prepared for uncertainty
What’s your go-to strategy for staying motivated in uncertain times?
Posted on LINKEDIN on 2024-05-18_Sat
Linking
- My running list of 12 favorite problems
- Curiosity Reflections
- [[Intentional Curiosity- Get your Brain to Focus on What Matters|Intentional Curiosity- Get your Brain to Focus on What Matters]]
- Workshop Staying Motivated Amid Uncertainty
