The Monday Rethink: One question every CEO should ask
As a systemic coach, I work with clients using a future-back and outside-in approach. We explore questions that cast us forward in time, cycling through multiple scenarios, and switching from reacting —> anticipating.
Having stretched their thinking in this way, leaders return to the present with untapped resources and strategic possibilities they may not have considered before.
One company that in my book masters the art of future-forward thinking is NVIDIA. CEO Jensen Huang's concept of "zero-billion-dollar markets" has been pivotal in transforming NVIDIA from a gaming graphics company to an undisputed leader in AI and computing technology and one of the world’s most valuable companies.
I don’t know of many leaders as visionary as Huang. He boldly ventures into cutting-edge technologies 5-10 years (!) before they become market-ready (a famous example is positioning NVIDIA in automotive long before people understood that the car would be software-defined).
As Huang puts it, part of his job is “positioning the company close to the opportunity.”
His philosophy is that “You don’t have to be perfect. But you want to position yourself near the tree. Even if you don’t catch the apple before it hits the ground, so long as you’re the first one to pick it up, [that’s great].”
So I challenge CEOs and their executive teams with this question:
“In two years from now, what will you regret not having addressed today?”
This one question sparks vibrant debates, widening the aperture and generating new possibilities.
And by the way, you can also ask this question as ‘the CEO of you’ :-)
Stay fierce & curious!
Alina
