Leading in Uncertain Times: Planning Amidst Great Uncertainty

COVID forever altered the speed and depth of change in our lives.  A few short years later, leaders of change-fatigued organizations ask how, or even if, to plan in the face of unrelenting change.

Planning matters more than ever. However, how to plan has fundamentally changed.

Strategic planning now focuses on collaborating with consumers to understand how trends will shape their future lives and determine what your organization will need to do in the next decade.

Then, without losing sight of that North Star, outline a path forward built to pivot as needed.

At times, this can feel like anti-planning. However, it is strategic planning in its purest form: A relentless focus on the “what” coupled with a soft grip on the “how,” knowing that the “how” may change many times before reaching the destination.

Recognizing that election years unleash significant change, Bridgespan revised and recirculated its scenario planning toolkit this spring.  It is the best we have seen. We have witnessed its power to prepare organizations for the unknown.

Uncertainty and change don’t have to shake us to our core. Good tools can help us create resilience in our organizations and teams.

As 2025 progresses, we will send tips and tools for building resilience and navigating uncertain times. Bridgespan’s scenario planning toolkit is a good step in that direction. The tool will help you plan and prepare. Naming reality and identifying options will strengthen the sense of agency and control for those in your organization.

Kavi Consulting Services has worked with over 100 organizations to build true and just sustainability.