Futurespective: “To-do & Not to do” these are the action items to get things done.

Futurespective is an incredibly positive perspective approach to get things done!

Not a lot of people are familiar with this method, although I personally find it to be one of my favorites.

I was introduced to this method a few years ago when I was wondering if I should take on a project or not, and I had to weigh the pros and cons, trying to figure out what I should do.

Usually when I start a personal coach or a team coach, I try to give the team/person a sense of control over the expected process and progress during the first few sessions, and to detect the gains and pains that the team or the person can use or over come in order to reach the project goals. It is also in my interest to set the team/person scoped into things he needs to attend that are directly related to the goal a head.

Futurespective can be a fantastic tool to serve this purpose (although we can use it for a lot more than that). It gives a good sense of control over the issues ahead and leads to practical action to enable better goals achievement.

Before we start

Some assumptions:

·         We assume that we have a team (or a person) with common interests and goals that they all want to achieve.

·         We assume that we are aware what project goals we need to achieve.

**Prepare sticky notes and a white board. After all, getting things done has a lot to do with visualization.

Let’s get practical:

 

1.       Ask the team to imagine a journey into the future where they are at the point of reaching their goals. Ask them to describe how this future looks like. What were the success factors that lead them to the point of success?  

**Tell them to ignore the execution phase for now. Give positive feedback and encourage the group to continue – don’t judge the ideas or the people!

 

a.       Write each success factor on a sticky note, and stick it on the board.

 

b.      Summary this session by understanding the factors that helped us get to this stage.

 

2.       Second phase: Ask the team to imagine they are at the point where they didn’t reach the goals.

The second phase may be the most important one in terms of making a point.

Why? What happened?

**Don’t get into solutions now.

a.       Write each unsuccess factor on a sticky note, and stick it to the board.

**Now you have a list of issues to do and not to do.

3.        Ask the team to look at the board.

 

 

a.       The ‘Goal Reached’ side of the board contains those issues we wish to keep.

These aren’t just issues; they can be policies, behaviors and rules. Following these may lead us to a better end. Keep this list visible. 

b.      The ‘Goal NOT Reached’ side of the board are those issues we wish to avoid, overcome, or deal with, a long time before they come happen.

 

4.       Draw action items: Ask the team/person to draw action items to keep/ avoid/deal. We can translate main pains and gains to action items as our backlog.

a.       Draw 1-3 actions items that need to be handled immediately, or assign team members to take those action items.

** Action items can be, for instance, create a list of policies, to avoid x and Y , to deal with issues and whatever.

5.       Now, all you have to do is just place your action items on your backlog and To-do list.

The techniques can be used for a lot of personal and professional issues. It can be used for example just before we initiate a new project, or just before we begin a personal journey; new work ; changes in life ; with our kids; just before a major turn over (new class, new year) and whatever we wish to tackle a head.

And as always, don’t forget to have fun while doing it.

 

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