Ira Kaufman

To advance the profession and practice of strategic foresight and future thinking we need to understand WHY the brain developed the capacity for foresight and HOW the systems of the brain interact to develop future frames and mobilize resources for action. Historically the foresight profession is primarily rooted in interdisciplinary methods from economics, sociology, environmental science, and technology studies. Only recently has attention been given to the science of individual and collaborative cognition and neurophysiology. (For example Maree Conway PhD, Andy Hines and Wendy Schultz have started to look at this. Tag some more people in the comments that are also working in this space). Grounding strategic foresight in neurophysiology can inspire the development of new foresight tools, methods and practices, while also enhancing the effectiveness of the current tool box....we can start to align foresight with how the brain works. I think this is especially essential as more advanced forms of AI/TECH/LLM are developed. We need to keep in mind that the tools of technology can inform us on WHAT to think about the future...but from a neurophysiological perspective, that is not the purpose of strategic foresight and future thinking. A neuroscience-based approach to strategic foresight and future thinking not only helps ground the profession in more robust science, it can also help... - Design more relevant scenarios - Understand the impact of personal and group bias - Lead to Better decision making - Inspire more innovative and creative thinking - Enhanced collaborative foresight - Align the future with values - Improve engagement with the future - Instill trust and inclusion - Increase consistency and scalability of practices - And much...much more. What do you think? #foresight #futurethinking #strategicforesight #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #ownthefuture

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10 Nonprofit storytelling must-haves for LinkedIn 1. Impact-driven narrative: People need to understand the problem your organization solves + how you solve that problem. Clearly articulate the positive change your organization creates. Quantify your impact with numbers, statistics, and real-life examples. Show, don't just tell. 2. Compelling visuals: Use high-quality photos or videos that capture the essence of your work and evoke emotions. Humans are visual creatures, and visuals can significantly enhance understanding of your organization and engagement. 3. Authenticity and transparency: Share genuine stories from beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, or donors. Be transparent about your challenges and successes to build trust and credibility. 4. Use middle-school English: Keep your posts concise and to the point, focusing on the most impactful aspects of your story. Use strong verbs, active voice, and a conversational tone to keep readers engaged. 5. Use clear calls to action: Tell your audience what you want them to do – donate, volunteer, share your post, or learn more about your organization. Make it easy for them to take action. 6. Know your audience: Tailor your content for LinkedIn professionals, emphasizing community and industry impact. This platform is ideal for finding future donors, volunteers, and team members. 7. Hashtags and @mentions: Use relevant hashtags to increase the visibility of your post and reach a wider audience. Tag partners, collaborators, or influential figures in the nonprofit sector to boost engagement. 8. Consistency and frequency: Post daily to maintain a consistent presence on LinkedIn. Experiment with different formats, such as text posts, image carousels, and videos, to keep your content fresh and engaging. 9. Interact and engage: Respond to comments and questions promptly. Join relevant LinkedIn groups and participate in discussions to connect with potential supporters and build relationships. 10. Double-down on what works: Track the performance of your LinkedIn posts using analytics tools. Analyze what works and what doesn't, and adjust your content strategy accordingly. What’s your top tip for nonprofit storytelling on LinkedIn? Share in the comments! 👇 If you found this helpful, I'd love to connect! Follow me for more tips and discussions on nonprofit marketing, fundraising and social impact. Let's learn and grow together! #Nonprofit #Storytelling #SocialImpact #Fundraising #Marketing #LinkedInForGood #NonprofitMarketing

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From a neuroscience perspective the FUTURE IS A PLACE. The brain uses place cells and grid cells to discover stable physical landmarks and establish reference points, and border cells (boundary cells) to understand the constraints of the environment. The brain also uses a process of dead reckoning, especially to determine how far it has traveled from "home." The capacity for navigation is one of the cognitive foundations for foresight. So, how do we practically apply this to develop better tools and frameworks for strategic foresight? We need to think in terms of navigation and map making. To align with how the brain works it might be useful to... 1. Establish landmarks or facts of the future. 2. Triangulate the landmarks/facts of the future to develop more stable relationships between the landmarks/facts. Later these triangulations can be used to stabilize or adjust what we "know" about the future 3. Establish the boundaries, or constraints, of the future. 4. Utilize the landmarks, landmark relationships and boundaries of the future to establish a map of the future. 5. Insert more details into the map and explore alternative landmarks and possibilities of the map. #future #foresight #strategicforesight #leadership #navigation #mappingthefuture #futureintelligence #leadershipdevelopment

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Great tips from Amit Dubey 👨‍💻 of Vectors Group! 👇

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Context precedes content We are a consumer society. Knowledge is being churned out and consumed at dizzying pace. It does not mean, we are personally getting better and wiser. Just like H2O written on paper is not wetness, conceptual models are guides and not reality and maps are not the real territory, similarly someone else’s experience is not our truth. They can be great aids and indicative, but they cannot replace one’s own path. The more unchartered is your path, the more likely it is your path. www.afieldcalledyou.com Know yourself first. Image by freepik

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Why try to publish in a prestigious journal when the odds are against getting in? Especially since you can post on LinkedIn or Medium, where there are no editors guarding the gate, and there are lots of potential readers. The reason is this: When anyone can post anything on a site, there's nothing prestigious about it. Publishing in prestigious places is an elemental piece of #thoughtleadership. Our Alan Alper recently had a great conversation with the editor-in-chief of one such prestigious management journal: Abbie Lundberg of MIT Sloan Management Review. Abbie explains what they look for, what’s on their radar screen and where they’re going. It's our latest “Everything Thought Leadership” podcast + video episode. Thanks Abbie and Alan. And thanks again John Buday for the video production. #thoughtleadership #b2bpublishing #contentmarketing

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Get the first step to writing a book, and start making progress today. The 3-Stage Process to Write a Nonfiction Book: Part 1 of 2 https://lnkd.in/ewTCk-9i

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Foresight framework (hack) of the day: STEEP STEEP is a well-used and beloved framework for analyzing the impact of a decision on multiple domains. It's a great multiplier for "If this, than that (?)" brainstorms. For example, if we built a strategy combating fake news with AI, what would be the impact in complex areas such as... S = science or society (it's an either-or) 🔬 🛫 T = tech 👩🏻‍💻 📲 E = economy 💴 💷 💸 E = environment 🌳 🐝 P = politics 🎯 This is STEEP+V to add a little nuance: V = Values 🥓 ⚽ Impacts might look like a shift (either positive or negative)in: public trust in journalism, respect for science, job skills. I love the opportunity to use "What if...?" questions as an analysis multiplier, too. Sooooo, let's try a new arrangement (because why not). What if we added LOVE to our framework, in all it's many forms. 💕 💌 👩‍❤️‍👩 💑 ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 💙 💜 💔 🐙 🦉 🦓 💐 🦄 🍦 🏒 🎭 ⛩ 🌞 🎻 🚬 🏳️‍🌈 ♻ S = science (includes tech) L = love (includes values and society) E = environment E = economy P = politics How might an analysis of the combat fake news with AI strategy change if we discussed the impact on LOVE? Impacts might look like a shift (either positive or negative)in what fake news does to families, empathy for others, and transparency in marketing communications. Perhaps I need to SLEEP on it. I do wonder if anyone thinks that there is potential here?

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RARIFYING 🦸🏾‍♂️ EXPERTISE Diversity from Anomalies In a world that often prides itself on the predictability of systems and the steady accumulation of specialized knowledge, the emergence of anomalies—those unexpected events or ideas that challenge established norms—invite us to reconsider what we value as expertise. The philosopher Maria Lugones (1944-2020) once emphasized the importance of a "world"-travelling mentality, which encourages us to understand and connect with the worlds of others. She argued, "Playfulness, world-travelling, and loving perception are crucial in understanding and being with each other." Indigenous scholar Vine Deloria Jr. (1933-2005) also offered profound insights into how indigenous knowledge systems encompass a holistic view of the world. He noted, "We are a part of the land and the land is part of us." Such understanding challenges the conventional scarcity narrative by promoting a worldview where everything is flowing, and abundance is a natural state. The work of Kimberle Crenshaw (born 1959), who introduced the concept of intersectionality, further deepens our understanding of how overlapping identities and experiences shape perception. Crenshaw explains, "Intersectionality is a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it interlocks and intersects." Intersectionality as a framework is crucial for analyzing events, as it allows us to consider how diverse socio-economic factors can influence their occurrence and the interpretations thereof. This insight prompts us to consider not only the rarity of such events but also the structures that define and sustain their perceived rarity. Black swans seem not rare in Central Florida. Underlining with indigenous environmental scholar Kyle Whyte (born 1981), his focus on the ethics of knowledge and environmental change stresses the importance of diverse narratives in understanding ecological phenomena. He asserts, "Indigenous knowledge brings attention to the most pressing issues faced by humans in relation to their environment." Incorporating the principles of #ABUNDANISM and #ELASTICISM into this enriched framework empowers us to confront and reshape the narratives around rarity and scarcity. Abundanism, with its focus on recognizing the inherent plentitude within and around us, helps to dismantle the myth of limited resources and encourages a shift towards seeing potential and opportunity in what might previously have been dismissed as marginal or anomalous. Elasticism, meanwhile, complements Abundanism by promoting flexibility and resilience in our thoughts and systems. It prepares us to better accommodate and learn from the unexpected, turning potential disruptions into opportunities for growth and learning. An approach steeped in abundance and elasticity cultivates culture that is not only more adaptable but also sturdier. Amplify these concepts to help us navigate unforeseen complexities that mark our lives. 🦢

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CATEGORICAL🎋OVERLOAD 🤯 Harnessing Memory: Power in Hierarchical Structuring for Cognitive Navigation In the realm of cognitive psychology, understanding how we store, navigate, and retrieve information is pivotal. Rooted deeply in category theory and championed by scholars like George A. Miller, our cognitive architecture can be brilliantly navigated using a structured hierarchical approach. Miller, in his seminal work, suggested that the average human can hold about seven items (plus or minus two) in their working memory—coined famously as "The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two." This principle has not only stood the test of time but also serves as a foundation for more advanced mnemonic systems. Historically, this concept draws parallels with ancient methods of memory, such as the "method of loci" used by Greek and Roman orators to remember speeches. By associating pieces of information with specific locations in a mental image of a physical space, they effectively navigated through large sets of data using spatial memory, a strategy aligning with hierarchical categorization in modern cognitive psychology. Exploring the bounds of Miller's theory, we introduce the flexibility of category size ranging from three to nine, reflecting an adaptive model that accommodates different types of information and individual capabilities. This range—3, 5, 7, and 9—allows for a more tailored approach to memory, recognizing that not all categories are created equal and some may require a tighter or more expansive grouping. This adaptability is crucial for effectively managing the "breadcrumb trail" of memory, where we navigate from one category to another, moving deeper into subcategories or back up to more general ones. The application of such a model is extensive. In educational settings, for instance, it can revolutionize how students organize their knowledge. By learning to categorize information into optimally sized groups, students can enhance their recall and understanding, making learning a more efficient and enjoyable process. Similarly, in professional fields that require the management of vast amounts of data, such as law, medicine, and software engineering, employing a hierarchical structuring of information can significantly streamline processes and improve efficiency. By embracing a range of three to nine in our categorization strategies, we honor the cognitive diversity inherent among individuals and the varied demands of different disciplines. As we continue to explore the depths of human memory and cognition, the integration of these principles will undoubtedly enrich our methods and tools, paving the way for innovations that respect both our historical cognitive roots and the future's complexity. ___ #CategoryTheory #BioBlossoming #Biomimicry Table: heatmap visualizing the cognitive load by category width and hierarchical depth, where the depth is represented by the Fibonacci sequence; for estimating the scalability.

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David Mattin takes us through the history of the singularity in its various forms, from Von Neumann, to IJ Wood, Vernor Vinge, and Ray Kurzweil. I’m not a fan of the latter or most of the ideologue-entrepreneurs around him, but Mattin brings an intriguing, and perhaps more valid, much longer-term, and believable angle. Well worth the read. There are likely some historical caveats, ‘yes buts,’ diverging stats, and he makes no mention of extraction and the encircling of the commons during the industrial revolutions, but I think the general arc is correct. Still an interesting view point and rethinking, and an excellent match with the piece below, about apocalypse thinking, and especially the reframing of colonisation into an old and ongoing apocalypse for indigenous peoples from early conquest and continuing along this sequence of industrial revolutions. Also interesting to think of Gibson’s Jackpot concept, which, for all intents and purposes, we are in the early stages off. Just as Mattin proposes that we are already living through the singularity (one might say through the process of ‘singularisation’), we are also living through it’s corruption phase (corruption as in rust corroding/corrupting steel) which can be called collapse, apocalypse, polycrisis, metacrisis, or The Jackpot. And, maybe, just maybe, The Jackpot can instead be The Transition. Which of these we are heading deeper into remains to be seen. #singularity #technology

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🔇 An Era of Loneliness and Isolation In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, issued a report titled "Our Epidemic of Loneliness & Isolation," (report link in the comments) revealing alarming societal trends. The statistics presented within this report are stark, indicating a concerning decline in social interaction and connection among various demographics. AND These trends underscore the dire consequences of loneliness on individual health and well-being. Scientific research, including Dr. Waldinger's Harvard Study, corroborates the severity of the issue, revealing that chronic loneliness can elevate the risk of dementia by as much as 50%. The Surgeon General's report further reinforces this, illustrating that the absence of social connections poses a greater health risk than substance abuse or obesity. But: Not a lot is being done to tackle the issue. Among the notable statistics, a significant decrease in face-to-face interactions among teenagers stands out, plummeting by 70% over the past two decades. Additionally, a staggering 60% of adults admit to feeling disconnected from others, highlighting a pervasive sense of isolation in society. Moreover, the number of men reporting zero close friends has surged by fivefold since 1990, emphasizing the growing prevalence of social disconnection. Therefore, I think we need to start re-assessing the importance of day-to-day social activities and connections, Phone calls, coffee meetings, and even walking with friends can increase our happiness and reduce the risk of diseases related to isolation. Simple but powerful things 🤔 #LonelinessEpidemic #happiness #love #SocialIsolation #PublicHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #CommunityConnection #CombatLoneliness #HealthyRelationships #SocialWellBeing #SurgeonGeneralReport #BuildingConnections

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📖 Tips on how to use storytelling in your grant application 💡 1. Be clear on your 'why' and motivation for doing the grant project, and more broadly starting your business. Explaining these in the grant application gives context to the project and sets the scene for your story. This will start to build emotional engagement and rapport with the assessor. 2. Through telling your story, describe the difference and impact that the outputs of the innovation project will make to your world, your business, your customers, the market and the UK. 3. Join the dots between the macro challenges, such as industry problems and the micro challenges that customers have, to tie the narrative together succinctly. 4. Use prose in a way that every word is working hard for your application and it's not too fluffy or salesy. What would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments! #storytelling #grantfunding

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The Material Alchemist: AI Ushers in a New Era of Material Design Humans have relied on trial and error to discover and utilise materials for millennia. From the stone tools of our ancestors to the silicon powering our modern world, progress has been driven by a laborious process of experimentation and observation. However, a new era is dawning, fueled by the #power of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This essay explores the transformative potential of AI in material science, heralding an age of tailor-made materials with properties previously unimaginable. Traditionally, #material #science has relied on the intuition and expertise of researchers, often involving long cycles of discovery and testing. However, AI introduces a paradigm shift. AI can identify #complex patterns and relationships at an atomic level by analysing vast datasets of existing materials and properties. This allows researchers to predict the behaviour of new materials before they are even synthesised, acting as an "alchemist" in the digital realm. The implications are profound. Imagine designing materials with specific properties in mind. Need a lightweight material with unparalleled strength for next-generation aircraft? AI can identify the ideal #atomic arrangement to achieve that goal. Are they seeking a biocompatible material for revolutionary medical implants? AI can predict how different materials interact with living tissue, accelerating the path to life-saving innovations. The impact extends beyond specific applications. AI can #revolutionise the discovery of entirely new material classes. By exploring uncharted territories in the vast chemical landscape, AI can identify materials with properties that defy our current understanding. This could lead to breakthroughs in renewable energy, where materials with superior energy storage capabilities or ultra-efficient solar energy #conversion could become a reality. However, this revolution is not without its challenges. The accuracy of AI models relies heavily on the quality and completeness of the data used to train them. Biased or incomplete datasets can lead to flawed predictions, potentially hindering progress. Furthermore, the complex nature of AI algorithms can make understanding the reasoning behind their predictions difficult. This lack of transparency necessitates careful human oversight and ongoing research to ensure AI's responsible development and deployment in material science. Looking ahead, the future of material science is one where human ingenuity and AI's computational power work in harmony. Researchers, #empowered by AI-driven insights, can accelerate the discovery and development of revolutionary materials. This collaboration will unlock a new era of technological advancement and pave the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future. The era of the material #alchemist has arrived, and AI holds the key to unlocking a world brimming with possibilities.

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How can we solve this? Who doesn't want to know this? How can we solve a lack of clients? How can we solve time? How can you double your business?.... Enjoy the conversation between our Podcast Host Grant Harris, and our Founding Member Yvonne Dam! #podcast #founders #theoctopusmovement #leadership #change #nonlinearthinking

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Heart coherence has so many benefits individually: lower stress levels, higher resilience, better intuition, decision making and creativity. Besides individual benefits, it also has great effect of team work and social interactions. The greater your individual coherence, the more harmonious effect you have on people around you. If people on the team practice coherence together, it creates group coherence which allows for better collaboration leading to cooperative solutions to problems, increased team performance and even breaking world records. If I would recommend one practice and one skill to master to benefit you and people around you, I would recommend a coherence practice. Want to know how? Download a free quick recharge meditation on my website (link in my profile). It will allow you to shift out of stress into coherence in a matter of a few minutes, and regular practice with it allows you to change your baseline to a higher coherent state.

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I look forward to reading this paper. This little mantra “people are irrational” has done a lot of harm, I think, perhaps contributing to distrust of government and expertise, plus an over-reliance on technocratic solutions to problems, perceived or real.

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