Futures Classics talk with Sohail Inayatullah: “Make storytelling central in futures work”
In November 2024, Futures Finland members had the opportunity to meet Sohail Inayatullah, a world-renowned futurist whose work has significantly shaped the field of futures studies. This meeting was part of our annual Futures Classics event. Inayatullah’s talk provided insights into his career journey, driven by curiosity and a desire to understand the forces that shape futures.
Inayatullah's approach to futures work is more than just applying methods and tools, but cultivating the right attitudes. During his talk at Futures Finland, he highlighted several key principles that guide effective futures work. In this blog post, we explore the key ideas he shared.
Make storytelling central to your approach
One of the most powerful insights from Inayatullah’s talk was the central role of stories in futures work. He emphasized that stories are not just tools for engagement, but they are vital for framing and understanding futures. Inayatullah suggests that a deeper, story-driven approach can help bridge the gap between the present and a preferable future. He refers to this as creating a “missing story” – a narrative that connects where we are now with where we want to be. This missing story helps identify key turning points, opportunities, and critical interventions that may shape futures.
Another important element of storytelling that Inayatullah highlighted is the power of transformational moments. By asking, “What was the moment in your life when you experienced a significant change? And could that happen again?” we can draw from the past to drive change. Recognizing that transformation is possible can inspire the belief that further transformation is within reach, empowering us to act towards a preferable future.
Don’t rush for the answer, instead pause for the direction
Inayatullah gave us advice not to rush toward an immediate answer or solution. This means being patient enough to embrace emergence and resisting the urge to act out of anticipatory anxiety or our own assumptions about futures.
Instead, by allowing space for new insights to emerge, we avoid limiting possibilities and create room for broader, more meaningful futures to unfold.
Don’t be the smartest person in the room
Inayatullah emphasized the importance of collaboration in futures work. We, as futurists or futures enthusiasts, may have an advantage in terms of knowledge, recognizing weak signals, and crafting cohesive stories. However, Inayatullah warned against positioning oneself as the “smartest person in the room” as a futurist. Taking a dominant role can prevent others from contributing their perspectives and ideas.
Instead, Inayatullah stressed that it is crucial that the whole team feels empowered. If the direction is something imposed by one individual, especially an external consultant, rather than collectively created, the agency of the group is diminished. We should foster ownership and increase the motivation to act toward a preferred future.
Don’t get lost in novelty
Another key point Inayatullah made was about not getting caught up in novelty for its own sake. While new trends, technologies, and ideas can be exciting, they should not be the only focus of futures work. Instead, Inayatullah suggests that we develop a deeper understanding of macro-historical changes. By studying long-term patterns and reflecting on how past cycles have shaped the present, we can better anticipate what might come next.
It was a privilege for us at Futures Finland to have the chance to talk with Sohail Inayatullah. His ideas gave us fresh ways to think about futures work. Futures Classics is an annual event hosted by Futures Finland, and we're already looking forward to meeting the next event’s guest and learning opportunities it will bring.
