That’s a bit of a trick question. Because, in a marcomm world that’s moving/changing as quickly as ours, the push is for innovation and coming up with the next big thing – fast.
Creating a disruptive idea that alters and improves the way we act/react.
To do that means you’re a forward thinker, right?
Maybe. But backward thinking has a role to play, too.
Who are the backward thinkers?
Backward thinkers are more traditional than their forward thinking counterparts. When faced with a challenge, they examine the various angles and scenarios methodically. And their appetite for change isn’t as…’forward’ as the forward thinkers might like it to be.
Backward thinkers start by pondering where they’ve been. They see linkages between old and new and the type of bridge they’d need to construct – one girder at a time – in order to get there. They’re often considered responsible for slowing down the adoption of social media. But it’s not necessarily because they dislike it, it’s simply their nature to take their foot of the gas.
Fast forward
Forward thinkers are dreamers and creative types, always looking for what’s next. Their minds wander as they glimpse exciting possibilities. They’re fast and nimble but they don’t always plan ahead. Forward thinkers take things apart and don’t necessarily remember how to put them back together again, don’t think it’s important or both.
When naysayers are drawn into the mix
The trouble happens when forward thinkers mistake naysayers for backward thinkers. Naysayers are exactly what you’d imagine: people rooted so firmly in the past, you wonder how they know the current date. I’ve worked with a few naysayers over the years and while they pretend to be backward thinkers, they’re not. They’re just plain negative. Naysayers claim to be analytic when all they’re doing is running scared. Scared that their little bag of tricks won’t dazzle anymore and they’ll have to learn something new. When naysayers enter the fray as they often do, watch out.
More forward than back
In the same way that conflict is the essence of drama, I believe we need a blend of true forward and backwards thinkers working together as the yin and yang of innovation. While the two sides may operate in different languages and time zones, as long as they open their respective minds and listen, they can complement and enhance the other’s POV. However, too many backward thinkers in an organization can cause it to be complacent and not seize opportunities.
The key is having forward thinking leadership that understands when to push forward or when to hang back.
As for the naysayers – well, let’s just naysay them out of the picture.
What do you think?
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