How can you assess external threats?
The Challenge
Think about the external threats (e.g., funding changes, new regulations, competition) that do or could impact your organization and team in the near future. Make a list of these threats and prioritize them in terms of which you see as the most likely to occur and/or have the greatest impact within the next six to 12 months.
Why do this?
Be aware of and prepare for external threats. One reason that you should strive to be more externally aware is to avoid being blindsided by factors that could derail or negatively affect what you are about to do. Staying tuned in to threats is not an exercise intended to create paranoia, but instead to help you think and act strategically.
This is part of your long-term effort to become an effective change agent and change manager by increasing your awareness of the external environment.
What’s next?
Consider taking the top one or two threats that you identified to your team in order to broaden their external awareness and gather input about possible strategies. Ideally, this action would occur in the context of a more systematic strategic planning process, which includes a thorough review of your organization's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
