WANT TO BECOME A FUTURIST? HERE ARE MORE EXPERT TIPS

Like we pointed out earlier, there are all sorts of different pathways to becoming a futurist and learning the art/skill of futurism. Not all approaches will fit every individual, given that there are many ways to arrive at the professional, and many approaches to practicing it as well. In any event, for those wondering how to become a futurist, we asked top keynote speakers and future trends experts to share more of their best tips and advice. Following, you’ll find what a few had to say:

• Develop expertise in forecasting approaches – Master techniques like prediction markets, causal modeling, sentiment analysis, crowd forecasting, etc.
• Participate in forecasting tournaments/exercises – Hone your skills by competing in events like The Good Judgment Project or those organized by groups like IFTF or Singularity University.
• Create prospective timelines – Chart out potential future milestones on topics you are focused on monitoring and projecting.
• Game out scenarios – Construct detailed hypothetical futures centered around key trends, events or disruptions. Assess plausibility and steps that lead there.
• Monitor weak signals and early signs – Look for small indications of shifts that may grow. Analyze news/data for emerging patterns.
• Foster an interdisciplinary mindset – Draw connections between various domains. For example, link technology trends to their impacts on business, politics, culture.
• Develop expertise in computer modeling/data science – Leverage capabilities like big data analytics, machine learning and AI for modeling complex future systems.
• Cultivate risk literacy – Improve understanding of cognitive biases and perception of risk probabilities. Allow for black swans and fat tail events.
• Maintain intellectual flexibility – Be ready to rapidly update your thinking as new evidence emerges. Don’t anchor too strongly to any one future.
• Travel widely – Visit other cultures to expand your perspective. Immerse yourself in global change.
• Do strategic advisory work – Offer services to help governments, companies, and NGOs with long-term planning.