Ride the Wave

I used to ride the waves on my body board on family holidays. It was thrilling to wait in the water for the next big wave to come. I'd watch carefully to see where the swell was starting and then try to perfectly time my ride. I'd paddle and kick frantically to make sure I caught the wave at the right moment. If I got it just right then the wave would pick me up and carry me on a thrilling ride until it reached the shore or lost its momentum. 

But if i got it wrong then it would be a terrifying disaster. 

Ride the wave too high and it could collapse at any moment, pushing me hard under the water and into the sandy bottom. Not take off fast enough and the force of the wave would swallow me up and send me somersaulting through the salty water. Then there was the added danger that if I didn't recover quickly enough, the undertow could suck me back into the ocean.

Riding the waves required watching what was coming next and then deciding when and how to move in order to catch the perfect ride. Move too slow and you'll ride on top of the wave but it can crash at any moment. Move too quick and you risk getting swallowed up.

The wave is a great way for organizations to think about developing trends in society and their sectors. We need to keep an eye out for what's coming next so we can respond appropriately and effectively. Move too quickly without understanding what's really happening and how the trend is being shaped and we risk getting swept over the new reality. Move too slowly or try to ride the old trends and we risk having everything we've built collapsing underneath us.

At FOCUS we can help you identify, name and respond to the trends that will affect you and your work. We want you to be aware and ready to act when the time is right to be the most effective and impactful that you can be in a changing world.

Photo by Emiliano Arano: https://www.pexels.com/photo/ocean-wave-at-blue-hour-1330219/