Strategic planning is one of my favorite processes because it allows us to look toward the future with hope. The process begins with creating a vision that is both optimistic and grounded in reality. But what happens when unexpected external forces threaten your organization’s ability to achieve its goals—or even its very existence?

Uncertainty. While predicting the future is always a challenge, even in the most stable environments, uncertainty becomes particularly overwhelming when what was once predictable becomes an unknown. In such times, organizations can find themselves struggling to know what steps to take. Right now, many government agencies and nonprofits that rely heavily on federal funding are deeply mired in uncertainty. With ongoing policy changes and freezes on funding, many of these organizations—and the public and nonprofit workforce—are grappling with what to do next.

This is where scenario planning can be incredibly helpful.