Signals of the Future Are Everywhere — Here's How to Find Them
A field guide to the scanning practice behind every Strategy Stories foresight article
One of the most frequent questions I get asked about Strategy Stories is where the signals, innovations, and strategies spotlighted originate from. I see scanning for signals of the future as an ongoing mindset and practice. While there are times that I’m specifically looking for signals related to a given focal area for a client project, most Strategy Stories articles arise from instinctive scanning that brings new inspiration for a story. From self-driving cars to biovaults of endangered species DNA to generative AI playlists and innovative suitcases, signals of the future are all around us.
Signal scanning is a foundational practice in strategic foresight and provides one of the best ways to practice, build, and develop a futurist mindset. Signals of change, which include emerging innovations, local practices, aberrations from established trends, or unexpected disruptions, provide hints and evidence of the future yet to come.
By scanning for signals and cataloging them over time, futurists are able to build an informed picture of possible futures grounded in evidence from today’s reality that goes beyond traditional trends. With these insights in mind, organizations are better positioned to detect disruption early on, challenge existing assumptions, and take action based on possible futures.
