Towards a „Future Organisation“?
Organisational transformations tend to focus on becoming „fit-for-the-future“: we closely assess the approaching waves, and try to ensure that we will be able to ride them, that we won’t be overwhelmed by their speed and strength, and thrown off balance. This is important and useful, of course, but in our experience, such an approach has two major limitations.
The first is assuming that after we handle this next big wave, we will breathe, and relax before the next one appears on the horizon. In a world in poly-crisis (or as we prefer to say, in meta-crisis), we do not have that luxury. We adapt for one wave while the next are already upon us. This is exhausting, and unsurprisingly leads to overwhelm and change fatigue.
The second limitation is assuming that the future „happens“ to us. It can certainly feel that way. But we like to adapt the Alice Walker quote and say „the most common way (organisations) give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.“ An economic system is shaped by the organisational systems it contains. In other words, if we are serious about a more promising future, where everyone thrives within safe planetary boundaries, then we should start with what our organisations do, with whom, and in what ways.
What if the organisations that take responsibility for a better future, were also more resilient ?
What if by creating organisations for the future we want, we could ALSO bring it about?
What does this look like concretely?
Future organisations do three things particularly well.
THEY Redefine what success looks like
A majority of people want an economy that prioritises the health and wellbeing of people and our planet rather than focusing solely on profit and increasing wealth. Our responsibility requires us to do more than tinkering at the edges of extractive models, it requires deep transformation.
Future organisations are systems leaders, they understand the big picture of our current predicament, and are focused on how they call a more promising future into being.
THEY Unlock the power of the collective
Imagine a world of well-being for all within planetary boundaries. Real participation, and our ability to achieve great things collectively, is both „what“ (a feature of the world we want) and „how“ (how we reach that goal).
For Future organisations, people are not seen as „Human Resources“ or „Consumers“, but endlessly creative citizens. They ask how they might achieve their purpose with their members. They are deeply democratic and invest in the competencies of their people.
THEY ARE regenerative and resilient systemS
Organisations are not machines, with centralised command and static, linear processes. We don’t build them once and use them till they break.
They are living eco-systems, able to evolve and react to the changing world around them.
Future organisations have learnt from nature that change is the only constant. They have found caring, decentralised and self-managing ways to think, work and thrive together for the long-run.
How to become Future Organisations?
This is how we visualise the path towards becoming a future organisation. It starts by asking questions, to understand the big picture and where the transformation priorities lie. Then, by enabling and opening up to the wisdom that is already in the organisation, practical solutions are co-created. As we are treading new ground, learning and adapting is crucial throughout this journey.
The organisation itself makes sure its competence, culture and structure are always centred around a system-change purpose, in order to act with responsibility towards its stakeholders, and the world as a whole.
At enough.consulting, we are your transformation travel companions, towards becoming a regenerative and resilient organisation that redefines success and unlocks the power of the collective. We provide you and your team with support that fosters mutual trust, encourages self-reflection and shared responsibility, and enables genuine learning. Throughout this journey we put your organisation’s people – their mindset and their skills – at the forefront. Our goal is to grow transformation competence through experiences that are specific to your context and needs.