Strategic Foresight is an Element of Effective Leadership, Not Just a Planning Tool
In a recent article for the Association of Professional Futurists’ Compass, I explained why strategic foresight should be embedded into leader development curricula to prepare leaders for the future of work and to complement other topics found in these curricula. In this post, I explain why strategic foresight is not only a planning tool but […]
Navigating Uncertainty: The Power of Scenario Planning in Higher Education
2025 may be a year of significant change for the higher education community. This community, which includes colleges, universities, accreditors, and nonprofits focused on higher education, may see significant shifts in higher education policies. Some of the proposed changes include eliminating the Department of Education and restructuring the accreditation system. Other proposals focus on affordability, […]
Empowering Leaders to Shape the Future of Work
Leader development programs often focus on strategy and management, but what about preparing leaders for the future of work? My latest article in the Association of Professional Futurists Compass explores how foresight and futures thinking are essential to empowering leaders to navigate the future of work and build resilient, thriving organizations. Read more here: https://www.apf.org/post/empowering-leaders-to-shape-the-future-of-work#:~:text=The%20future%20of%20work%20is%20an%20important%20topic%20for%20organizational,employees%2C%20and%20create%20positive%20change.
Review of Disrupt with Impact: Achieve Business Success in an Unpredictable World
Roger Spitz’s Disrupt with Impact provides a systematic exploration of disruption and offers practical advice on enhancing foresight and decision-making so that people and organizations can navigate a rapidly changing and uncertain world. Although helpful for everyone, the book is especially relevant for preparing leaders to engage with the future as response-able, agile architects (this […]
Change Management in Higher Education
In this episode of the Change Management Review™ “From the Field” Series, Managing Editor Brian Gorman interviews Chris Mayer, a career Army officer who is serving as associate dean for strategy, policy, and assessment, and associate professor of philosophy at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Chris has led, been part of, or observed efforts […]
Leadership in a VUCA World
This week, Mike is joined by Colonel Chris Mayer, Associate Dean for Strategy & Initiatives at West Point, to talk about teaching strategic leadership in a VUCA world. We begin by breaking down the concepts behind the VUCA acronym as we explore how best to lead in an increasingly Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous world. Chris imparts insight based […]
A Philosopher’s Take On The Future of Leadership, Education, & A Lot More
Cathy is joined by Chris Mayer, philosopher & also Associate Dean for Strategy & Initiatives at West Point. Among the many things Chris does is teach Philosophy to cadets. Cathy and Chris met at the University of Houston’s Strategic Foresight Professional Certificate program earlier this year. During this episode, they talk about the future of […]
The Future of Work, Education & Leadership with Chris Mayer
In this power-hour conversation with Chris Mayer, Assistant Dean at the US Military Academy at West Point, we deep dive into the most pressing issues of Future of Education, Work, and Leadership. It is so refreshing to hear from the best, Mayer’s independent perspective on many other issues and great opportunists to elevate leadership skillset […]
Future-Proof Leadership Literacies, Robots and the Power of Science Fiction with Colonel Chris Mayer
Chris returns to join Mike Palmer to revisit the conversation started during Chris’ first appearance in November of 2019. We review Bob Johansen’s book The New Leadership Literacies as we take a few twists and turns to touch on how the world of robotics is evolving and how we. can learn from science fiction as we try to peer further out […]
West Point: Philosophy, Leadership and Combat
In this episode of ‘The New Abnormal’ podcast I interview Chris Mayer, Assoc Dean for Strategy & Initiatives at West Point Military Academy in the USA.We discuss his belief that the intersecting futures of higher education, work, and leadership (and the uncertainty associated with these intersecting futures) will create challenges and opportunities for people and […]
Review of: How Colleges Change: Understanding, Leading, and Enacting Change
Internal and external forces continue to push for change in higher education. Political leaders, the public, and foundations advocate for lower tuition and higher quality; boards of trustees and accreditors also serve as catalysts for change. Additionally, administrators, faculty, and staff seek better ways to promote student learning and more effectively accomplish their institution’s missions. […]
Review of: Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success
It is not unusual to hear a member of the faculty and staff claim that many of their students are not ready for college. High schools, socio-economic conditions, parents, and students themselves are blamed for this problem, even as there is debate as to what college readiness means or whether career readiness should be prioritized […]
Sustaining Innovation in the Midst of Success (Journal of Leadership Studies)
It seems strange to claim that it is dangerous for organizations to achieve the success they seek; however, there are numerous cases of successful organizations facing decline soon after achieving success. This often occurs because these organizations fall into the trap of focusing too much on execution once they achieve success, which causes them to […]
Achieving Transformational Change in Higher Education (Change Management Review)
These are challenging times for colleges and universities. Competition for students has intensified as the number of high school graduates is declining. There is increased public scrutiny regarding the value of college degrees given the high cost of tuition at many institutions and the resulting debt that burdens many students. Colleges and universities have also […]
The Ethics of Strategic Leadership: The Decision-Making and Execution Process (Ethikos)
When most people think about leadership, strategy isn’t typically the first thing that comes to mind. But leadership without strategy is a recipe for disaster. It’s much like being blindfolded and wandering aimlessly in the dark, hoping to arrive at an intended destination—chances are you won’t. To be successful, you’ll need a plan of action […]
Rethink Compliance Management: Take an Informed Approach to Mitigating Risk (Compliance and Ethics Professional Magazine)
As our world becomes more connected and equally complex through global stakeholder engagement, advances in technology, and an ever-changing regulatory framework, organizations everywhere face new challenges, increased expectations, and greater exposure to compliance risks. Yet the concept of risk is hardly straightforward. And, even though good governance rarely relies on a single approach for mitigation, […]
Playing to Win in Higher Education: Developing Effective Strategies for Colleges and Universities (Journal of Higher Education Management)
The Playing to Win framework is worthy of consideration as a strategy framework because many college and university strategic plans are not designed to advance a real strategy. One indication that strategic plans do not produce real strategies is their similarity to one another. If there are any choices reflected in strategic plans, they often […]
Enhancing General Education with Strategic Foresight (Journal of Futures Studies)
Group of people walking towards the sun representing how general education and strategic foresight open up future possibilities.