What Comes Next: Shaping the Future in an Ever-Changing World
One thing is certain; the world around us is constantly changing and developing. The way we react to these changes has an impact on every aspect of our lives, whether it’s our families, churches, or businesses. Stepping out of our comfort zones can be harder than we like to admit, but it’s essential if we want to develop and lead as effectively as possible. That is the issue being tackled in this book – how can we be effective Christian leaders in a world that is becoming increasingly unpredictable?
This is not a new concept being tackled here, and in fact, books about leadership can often oscillate between being dry and complex or unoriginal and simplistic. However, in What Comes Next you’ll discover a book that delves deep enough to be useful and is interesting enough to keep you reading. The first thing in its favour is the inspiring resumés of its authors, Nicholas Skytland and Alicia Llewellyn. As cofounders of Quite Uncommon, a consulting firm that helps ministry leaders navigate the future, and also devoted Christians with successful careers at NASA, it would be hard to find two people better qualified to write this book.
‘Welcome to an amazing field guide for your better future!’ This opening line encapsulates the book’s raison d’être, a concept you quickly discover is based on the idea that we are all near-sighted with a limited vision of the future. This is something the authors remind us that the Bible warns of. And what is the suggested antidote? Effective planning. In part one we are called to rediscover our childlike curiosity, looking at the world without preconception and self-consciousness. Using the familiar childhood toy of a kaleidoscope as an illustration, the authors have created a system that acknowledges reality, yet produces an endless display of combinations and outcomes. This process allows us to see our ordinary world from new and amazing perspectives, showing us how to solve the same problems in innovative ways. This system they named the ‘Futures Framework’.
In part two, the Futures Framework is described. Consider how four forces – purpose, people, place, and technology – work to blur our vision. The authors propound that these different areas and their interactions influence all our decisions. A chapter is dedicated to each of these intersections, considering all the varying aspects of life affected and how to make changes in each to become a better leader. For example, in chapter five, Nicholas and Alicia call us to truly consider who we are, because without this understanding, how can we know where we’re heading and our motivation for getting there? This is where they call us to start our journey as it is the driving force behind the majority of our decisions. Each of these chapters concludes with an opportunity to apply the lessons to our own situation, by asking questions that allow genuine self-reflection, with the help of an accompanying worksheet.
This idea isn’t about trying to predict the future, but instead preparing for all the different potential futures. This is illustrated with inspiring examples of real-life explorers and how they turned their failures into successes, along with stories of individuals who had recognisable struggles but overcame them using the methods described. That’s where part three comes in. Probing questions and charts show how much we’ve already developed, and how much closer we are to clearly defining the future we want to achieve. The practicalities of getting there are described via a five-step process. With examples showing how to apply their advice to a range of different scenarios, there is no excuse for not putting ‘futures thinking’ into an actionable plan.
This book tackles leadership from a Christian viewpoint, and its framework is gospel-driven. Drawing on both scripture and science, the tone of the narrative is approachable and the content relatable. Whilst it is easy to read, this book is not one to rush through. There is a substantial amount to consider and work through. Nonetheless, there is nothing stopping anyone from implementing its action plans immediately. This is an essential read for anyone who genuinely desires to grow in leadership and achieve their aspirations for the future.
Review by Kyria Banks
Together Magazine
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