Branching Out

Branching Out is a simple activity with many possible variations. While the questions in the printable resource centers on personal futures, you can shift the focus in a number of ways. One variation is to envision an organization’s future across multiple possibilities, such as a school or company. Another application is to explore how an external element, like a new regulatory policy or an emerging technology, might play out. To take it a step further, participants can add more pathways and multiple branches off of each step.

As a facilitator, try to help your participants imagine each scenario as clearly distinct from one another, even if the outcomes may seem unlikely. One of the learning goals is to push divergent thinking and the ability to “see” different futures. To do so, help each individual identify variables that can have a big influence on what happens next—like where a person lives on a personal level, or how quickly your organization grows if you’re a start up. By identifying different scenarios, and the assumptions that might lead to different outcomes, your participants will come to see distinctions across the different branches.

Note: The activity pdf should be printed and folded.