Insights are invaluable; they can arise from data, conversations, or even a gut feeling that something is going to happen…or that change is afoot. But when we get that insight IN ADVANCE OF the event, it transforms into foresight—an asset to be embraced, explored, and acted upon. Ignoring foresight, whether due to busyness or apprehension, can lead to missed opportunities or even career setbacks.
Hindsight, while useful for learning, often arrives too late, leaving us with regrets and what-ifs. It’s like “oh, if I had that wisdom now, I would have done things differently.” Hindsight can be helpful for the future, but because it came AFTER the event, it can also make us regretful. Yet, discerning between foresight and hindsight isn’t always straightforward; sometimes, our understanding evolves gradually; sometimes we can predict things accurately, sometimes not at all.
Consider recent experiences at work—are there signs of struggle or impending change? I’ve seen professionals who are struggling, and they clearly need help. They say so themselves. They have a sense that things are not going OK at work. Could be a restructure. A new boss. A looming redundancy. A feeling of exhaustion and an uphill struggle. A feeling of being side-lined, of not thriving, of stagnating or even going through a downward spiral…
And then I’ve seen those same people not take action. They need help and want support, but the (sabotaging) voice in their head says that they should be able to figure it out alone, that they are too busy and overwhelmed, that it may cost too much…And then nothing happens. Until it does. And their role gets cut, they lose their job, sometimes even the company or parts of it shut down. We have seen it all in the last few years, massive layoffs, restructuring, perpetual cost cutting…And then they are left to paddle frantically and look for a new job, largely from a standpoint of diminished confidence, mindset of desperation and all kinds of pressures, including financial, mounting…
It hurts me to see this. Much like with anything in life, foresight is more valuable than hindsight. Much like with disease prevention, you take steps to protect yourself, to strengthen yourself and choose those habits, attitudes and behaviours that are going to support your health. It is the same with your career, your job, your work….don’t wait to get sick to start paying attention to your health! Embracing change and leveraging foresight will empower you to future-proof your careers and thrive!
But we humans are creatures of habit. We are scared of change. We avoid change. We pretend we don’t see the change coming. We’d rather ignore our insights, our gut feeling, even external signals, and we continue to battle on. Sometimes we may succeed, but more often we don’t – that’s what it’s like in the world of work these days…
Will you passively endure the whims of your employer or take charge of your career’s trajectory? Embracing foresight and seeking support when needed are key to positioning oneself for success in an ever-changing professional landscape.
When the pain of staying the same becomes bigger than the fear of change, we take action!
Are you going to be at the whim of your employer (no matter how great they may be!), or are you going to future proof your career, by getting the right support when needed? What insight do you want to lean into?
Join the ranks of those who anticipate, adapt, and thrive—welcome to the winners’ circle of foresight!
