What happens when you open yourself up to future possibilities? This is what the concept of future orientation decision making is all about. Here we explore the ability to recognize—even welcome—the potential, the unexpected, the new. Whether an organization is closed or open to new information is determined by whether it has a past or future orientation.With a past orientation, we communicate and make decisions on the basis of past information and reject or ignore new information. Traits of a past orientation include: Reliance on past history for decision making, Language focused on past events or behavior, Independent relationships, Strong need for control, Need to maintain the status quo, Low trust, Win-lose conflict resolution style.
Those with a past orientation operate in a closed paradigm—they view the world the way they want it to be. They’re unwilling to challenge their own assumptions and change their beliefs. They make decisions based on outdated mental maps. They are speaking and living in the past with old information.