Apply the ICF Thought Leadership Institute Futures Thinking Loop to Coaching

An Introduction to Futures Thinking

Futures thinking is a transformative framework designed to help individuals navigate the uncertainties of the future with confidence. A blend of science and art, futures thinking integrates many disciplines, data, experience, and creativity to envision and activate preferred future scenarios.

Rather than predicting a specific future, futures thinking invites multiple possibilities and the actions needed to prepare for them (Slaughter, 1996). By blending the coaching mindset with futures thinking, coaches and clients can co-create collective futures through intentional choices made today.

COACH’S CORNER:
Today’s choices impact multiple possible futures. By focusing on plausible and meaningful future scenarios, coaches and clients can confidently navigate ambiguity and effectively prepare for their preferred future.

Key Principles of Futures Thinking

Futures thinking for coaching acts as a compass, guiding coaches and their clients through the complexities of change. The ICF Thought Leadership Institute champions futures thinking to foster a mindset that embraces change, encourages innovation, and empowers action toward desired futures.

At the ICF Thought Leadership Institute, our approach to futures thinking includes key principles:

  • Anticipate emerging patterns and potential disruptions.
  • Imagine creative possibilities and preferred futures.
  • Adapt and be flexible to navigate evolving circumstances.
  • Collaborate to co-create preferred collective futures through local action.

COACH’S CORNER:
Open a coaching session with a question like, “What emerging trends are you seeing that could impact your current path?” This invites clients to imagine what could be important in potential futures.

The Future-Informed Coach

A future-informed coach enhances their practice and client outcomes by:

  • Expanding possibilities: Futures-thinking helps prepare and adapt to multiple potential futures, not just one.
  • Inspiring innovation: Exploring future scenarios sparks creative thinking and innovative solutions for clients and the coaching profession.
  • Personalizing the future: Coaches can guide proactive, future-oriented choices for individuals and communities.

COACH’S CORNER:
Imagine a client in the tech industry worried about job security due to AI advancements. Explore scenarios where AI complements or replaces certain roles. Then guide them toward skill-building and career planning.

ICF Thought Leadership Institute Futures Thinking Loop

The ICF Thought Leadership Institute’s Futures Thinking Loop provides a structured approach for developing plausible future scenarios. This loop includes four phases:

Adapted from the IFTF Cycle of Strategic Foresight

FUTURES THINKING QUESTIONS:
What are the most significant trends impacting your industry today?
How might these trends evolve over the next 5-10 years?
What skills or strategies will be essential in these future scenarios?

Applying the ICF Thought Leadership Institute Futures Thinking Loop to Coaching

Observe

The Observe phase systematically collects evidence and analyzes drivers of change and trends most likely to shape the future of coaching. This integrated approach informs the next step, the Envision phase.

Drivers of Change

Drivers of change are the fundamental factors influencing an industry or system over the long term. Identifying drivers help to understand their immediate and future impacts that may shape industry-specific dynamics and drive the future of coaching.

Trends and Signals

Trends are broad shifts across social, political, and economic indicators, while signals are early indicators of emerging trends. A trend analysis analyzes both, helping to identify patterns and detect early signs of change that shape future scenarios.

The STEERE Framework

The ICF Thought Leadership Institute STEERE framework is a structured approach to assess trends across social, technological, economic, ecological, regulatory, and ethical domains. Adapted from the STEEPLE method for the future of coaching, this holistic analysis organizes a systems-level perspective of the global trends and emerging signals that influence the future of coaching.

COACH’S CORNER:
In coaching, combining the trend of regeneration and ecological well-being with the signal of emerging feelings of eco-anxiety reveals a driver of change in the future of coaching: the Climate Change coach.

Envision

The Envision phase encourages coaches and clients to imagine multiple plausible futures and set goals that align with preferred futures scenarios based on learnings from the Observe phase.

Futures Scenarios Planning

Futures scenarios are narratives that explore different possible outcomes based on current trends and drivers of change. Coaches can use scenario planning to help clients think through potential challenges and opportunities, fostering a proactive approach to uncertainty.

COACH’S CORNER:
A coaching-specific scenario might explore a future where AI-assisted coaching becomes the norm. This scenario reveals how human coaches adapt their roles, the ethical implications of AI in coaching, and the evolving needs of clients in this tech-driven landscape.

Anticipate

The Anticipate phase synthesizes observations and visions to uncover new ideas, strategies, and implications for coaching.

Hunch

A hunch is a weak signal in the present that may have significant future implications. These moments invite exploration of future scenarios, though they may not evolve into trends.

Voices of Experts: The Delphi Method

The Delphi method involves consulting coaches and experts across disciplines to gather perspectives, including the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Thought Leadership Institute Wisdom Weavers. Expert consultation and interpretation connects theoretical futures to practical applications for the coaching industry.

COACH’S CORNER:
The ICF Thought Leadership Institute adapted the Delphi method to gather insights from a diverse panel of experts on emerging trends in coaching. This structured approach can help develop well-rounded strategies to guide clients through future challenges. Learn more about our Wisdom Weavers.

Act

The Act phase turns insights into concrete steps, integrating futures thinking into daily practice, ensuring long-term growth and adaptability.

The Action Prioritization Matrix

An action prioritization matrix can be used to evaluate and rank possible actions based on two factors: the level of effort required to implement and the long-term return or impact. This tool helps streamline decision-making and focus on high-impact strategies that align with future goals.

COACH’S CORNER:
Guide clients to translate learnings from the Observe, Envision, and Anticipate phases into practical action to align the present with their preferred future vision. Use the Action Prioritization Matrix to structure the conversation and ensure a balanced approach between effort and outcome.

Resources and Further Reading

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