Building a Culture of Foresight: Insights from the ASAE Foresight Application Course

By Irene Costello, Director of Operations  

In today’s fast-paced association landscape, foresight is emerging as an essential competency for leaders committed to preparing their organizations for the future. Recently, I had the chance to dive deep into this concept at the ASAE Foresight Application Course in Washington, D.C., hosted by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). The workshop offered a structured approach to integrating foresight into organizational planning, emphasizing a shift from short-term strategies to a 10-year outlook. Here’s a glimpse of my takeaways and next steps.

Why Foresight Matters for Associations 

Unlike traditional strategic planning, which often examines a three- to five-year window, foresight encourages a broader perspective, compelling leaders to envision how their associations will evolve a decade from now. By analyzing Drivers of Change, a concept introduced by ASAE, we gain insight into emerging trends and potential shifts that might reshape our fields. This framework enables us to begin discussing societal, economic, and technological changes and strategically position our organizations to anticipate and navigate these developments over time. 

Building a Foresight Culture 

Implementing foresight is not a single action but a continuous, collective effort. A key insight from the course was that establishing foresight practices within an organization requires embedding this long-term view into current processes. At TMG, we’re starting this journey by incorporating foresight principles into annual strategic planning and aligning board and committee discussions with these long-term perspectives. Furthermore, by training account executives to use foresight in their work with clients, we can begin building a proactive mindset that identifies emerging opportunities across different sectors. 

Moving Forward: Actionable Next Steps  

The ASAE course emphasized that the journey to foresight requires consistent engagement and commitment from all levels of the organization. My action plan is to weave Drivers of Change into existing initiatives, such as strategic planning and our internal development programs. By making foresight an integral part of these activities, we can reinforce a forward-thinking mindset, ensuring that our team is always thinking about what’s next, both for TMG and for the associations we serve. 

Participating in ASAE’s Foresight Application Course has shown me the value of foresight as an organizational competency, one that equips us to anticipate and prepare ourselves for the evolving needs of the associations we partner with. As we continue to build this culture, I look forward to seeing how foresight will shape not only our planning but our everyday operations and interactions. 

By creating a culture of foresight, we’re not just preparing for tomorrow; we’re setting the foundation for a thriving future in the association world.