4 steps to plan during unprecedented times

How many times have you heard the word “unprecedented” lately? Shelter measures have been in place for over 2 months now. Masks, disinfectant and social distancing are the new normal in my life. Going to the supermarket is the adventure of the week and my routine workout has moved to the living room. I keep (screen) contact with family and friends around the world facing similar situations; some of them going through sickness, loss and grief. I have also been experiencing structural changes in the company I work for as markets are struck by economic turmoil.

All of these rapid changes are having an impact on myself and people I care about. We are all looking for ways to react, move on or simply get by. How do we do it with so many open questions ahead of us? As country and travel restrictions are lifted, uncertainties will remain. Allow me to share some of my learnings on how to navigate uncertain environments, transform anxieties into opportunities and better prepare ourselves for what is to come.

Step 1: Get into a constructive state of mind

Looking at the future in an effective way benefits from certain clarity of mind. In the midst of steep change and uncertainty we typically start from a place of urgency and stress. Recognizing and processing changes is a very personal affair. It is important to know and care for our mental health and for the ones around us, before venturing in finding solutions and forecasting what is next. An individualized approach to mental readiness is good to consider when working with others to maximize the chances of the group to thrive.

Step 2: Act upon urgent items

In recent times, we have been reacting more often to situations we never experienced before with scarce information and limited time. When drastic changes in our environment happen, most people have an instinctive reaction to quickly address what the impact is and fill the void. It is wise to consider what needs to be looked at urgently and what can benefit from some deeper reflection. In the words of Sir Andrew Likierman, former Dean of the London School of Business: “In most cases, good judgement requires reflection before action.”

Step 3: Deep dive to understand uncertainties and build scenarios

Once we have reached the required mental state to look forward, scenario planning is a great technique we can apply. It allows us to broaden our perspectives and considers different scenarios that might materialize instead of choosing just one path. It guides us to identify what are the trends, influencing factors and uncertainties that apply to a specific problem or focus area. Developing recognizable narratives helps inform possibilities and convert our unstructured thoughts into clear story lines. Scenario planning can help us talk about the future with more confidence and give us input to stress test our goals, strategies and plans.

Step 4: Review your predictions and adjust

Reviewing the accuracy of our predictions will be necessary to pivot as needed. Some identified uncertainties might become true, some might not and new influencing factors will need to be considered. Constantly adjusting in an agile manner will allow us to stay on track.

Next time you find yourself thinking that what you are dealing with is “unprecedented”, I encourage you to give yourself and the ones close to you the time to get into the right mindset before driving towards action. Once you do, identify what is urgent, what will benefit from deeper reflection and take the time to build some scenarios for what is most uncertain. We can not always influence the changes around us but we can prepare ourselves to react to them in the best possible way. And in the meantime, do not forget to take joy in the little things that are happening right now.