The future can feel like a pretty intense thing to talk about, especially in business settings where so much feels unknown. History is filled with examples of people trying to predict the future and not getting it right (to be polite about that), so why wouldn’t we?
This is even more improtant where money is involved and the world can be so complex. There are global pressures, shifting consumer expectations, tech disruptions, and all the usual day-to-day concerns to think about, which is a lot to take in
However, and understandably, staff and customers alike often look to leadership for some kind of reassurance especially when things get tough. Remember the early days of the pandemic? There were questions flying everywhere, and almost no one had the perfect answers.
This is where tone, transparency, and trust are important to manage to reassure employees about the future. In this post, we’ll discuss how your company can reassure about the future even in times of difficulty.
Keep People Involved In The Shaping, Not Just The Telling
There are essentially important dividing lines between announcing a vision and inviting people into it, as many companies do the former, but the latter tends to create far more buy-in. When those who engage with your business feel like their voice, their work, or even their concerns have shaped part of what’s coming next, the result feels more personal and they have more stake in it, which is the first thing you should try to achieve.
That could look like regular staff forums, or including customers in pilot testing for new products or services to use a couple of examples Put simply, you may not be able to predict the future, but you could extend a hand and welcome those around you along for the ride.
Make Complexity Understandable Without Over-Simplifying
Talking about the future often brings out either too much vagueness or too much jargon, because how can you be precise about an unknown? Neither approach is particularly helpful. To reassure employees about the path forward, avoid getting bogged down in minute details, but do provide a clear sense of direction and a compelling vision.
Being honest about what’s known, what’s still being worked through, and what will be revisited can go a long way here, no matter if you’re giving an end of year review or talking about a product idea you’re moving forward with. A steady tone and a little plain language always helps people feel like you’re not trying to fool them, which is a win.
This is part of what makes someone like Nick Jankel futurist keynote speaker and transformation expert, a compelling voice on future-thinking, because he can show strategic insight with practical ideas, all without pretending there’s one easy answer.
Stay Consistent With What You Do, Not Just What You Say
Ultimately, reassurance tends to come from what people witness over time. If a company says it’s committed to long-term value but constantly cuts corners or pivots without clear reasoning, people feel that disconnect and they won’t trust you. The future comes from today, and so you need to have that ground in place, through showing up regularly, keeping people informed, delivering on the things you commit to, and owning whenever you have to pivot.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily reassure employee, the team and your customers as you all move forward into this promising future together.
