What's all this talk about the future?

It has been a while since I've posted. If I had an excuse, I've been fighting fires...like all of you. But if I were being accurate, I would say that I've been shaping the future for my company, for my family, for my life. And honestly, I’m making better progress in some areas than others.

What I have noticed is that crisis brings a fair amount of future focus, especially if one’s present predicament is uncomfortably unpleasant (see my fighting fires comment above). Nevertheless, I am acutely aware that most typcial conversations are about the past. What they did last night, what they ate, what the weather was, problems about this person, or that politician. Conversations about the future seem to be the exception.

To put it kindly, conversations about the past are sometimes interesting, but often useless, and almost always meaningless. I’ve wondered if they are like the comfortable couch that molds to our behinds, keeping us stuck in inexcusable underachievement. Maybe it lulls us to sleep, keeping us from taking any action that would move us forward towards a higher level of happiness and service and success.

Mindless Questions Beget Mindless Answers.
In speaking with one of my teenaged daughter, I rejected the temptation to ask, “How was your day?” That inane question never ever has generated a substantive conversation between us. I asked her instead, “What is your student government class planning to do about…”

In my weekly interviews with my direct reports, I will generally ask, “Tell me what is going on…” In one situation, because they have achieved some nice stability, there is rarely much to talk about. While I appreciate the fact that the meeting is short, I realize that I’m not helping her, nor am I getting what I need out of the meeting. I want her to tell me of her wrestle with the future, how it supports our objectives, and how she is using my money to get there.

Now What?
In my conversations, I will use questions that open the doors to the future. I have seen how people can buffalo their way through what's happened. I expect them to articulate and then deliver on what will be. Buckle up.