Continuous Value Creation™

1. Futuring
Futuring is beginning with the end in mind. It is co-creating a picture, defining the essence, developing a joint understanding of the desired future state of the enterprise. This is a conceptual piece of the process, challenging for those with a highly tactical orientation. With all possible clarity, in concise terms, what is the preferred future?

2. Sensing
Sensing is scanning the environment, identifying enablers and obstacles that may work for or against the desired future. It is looking for any and all relevant conditions, both evident and not-so-evident. It is picking up weak signals and identifying emerging trends. Thoroughness is critical to success – it is important to turn over all the stones. What are the obstacles and impediments to the preferred future? What are the levers that can provide traction?

3. Creating
Creating is the generation of ideas, with no rules, limits, or gatekeepers. Nothing is far-fetched – this stage is high on quantity and low on judgment. It is stretching to find another perspective, above, below, inside-out, and sideways. It is intuitive, divergent, the free-flow capture of inklings. The lack of constraint will be difficult for some. It takes rigour to persevere, to hold on for the blinding flash of the obvious. At this stage, more is more.

4. Designing
Designing is the marriage of creativity and concrete reality. It is the addition of constraints, the need to bridge from where one is today to where one wants to be in the future. It is narrowing the idea set, moving from divergent to convergent thinking, adding the realities of resources and timing. Strong design welcomes constraint to bring clarity, elegance, and simplicity. How do you start from where you are? At this stage, less is more.

5. Animating
Animating is creating the story that will build energy, traction, and momentum. It is turning to face outwards, bringing life to all that has been done so far. It is crafting the message that supports different types of people to become emotionally engaged, embrace what’s happening, and seek participation. Animating must be authentic and clear, no mixed messages. It is a great opportunity for a wide range of tools and a high degree of creativity.

6. Aligning
Aligning is the beginning of managing the change process. It is knowing the forces that need to be aligned – people, resources, timing, politics. It is assessing readiness and willingness to move forward. It is positioning the right people in the right places, as well as developing cheerleaders and champions. Aligning requires political intelligence, mature judgment, discernment, and patience. What is, and is not, ripe to happen now?

7. Accountability
Accountability is the essential element often known by its absence. It is a cultural quality that grows exactly as strong as all leaders’ use of feedback, dialogue, and difficult conversations. It is a personal promise that grows exactly as strong as each leader’s ability to clarify, contract, and commit. In order for the preferred future to become the new reality, what leadership habits need to change?

8. Action
Action is about focusing on the next 100 days. It is taking the first steps on the pathway to the preferred future. It is doing the next right thing and enjoying the early wins. It is also clearing the roadblocks in order to release momentum. Over time, many more actions will emerge. For now, at this moment, what’s next?