Rod Serling, the creator and head writer of the popular 1960s television series The Twilight Zone, used unique storylines and twists to explore how humans behave. 

He was famous for using thought-provoking narratives using science fiction, horror and suspense to his storytelling, often ending the story with an unexpected outcome. 

In one episode, we find a husband and wife back in their hotel room after stealing what they believe is junk from an antique store. When the husband opens the camera box, he takes a self-developing photo of his wife, that shows her in the immediate future. The camera can predict the future, which delights these two criminals as they begin to look for ways to use the camera to their benefit. 

In today’s ever-changing world we would love to use that special camera to predict the future, to show us the best way to lead those around us. Jennifer Garvey Berger and Keith Johnston don’t have a special camera. They do, however, run a global leadership center in New Zealand and in 2016, co-authored a book titled “Simple Habits for Complex Times.” 

Their book begins with the premise we are living in a VUCA world- one with volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. Because we have unlimited information and data at our instant disposal which is beneficial on one hand and can change instantly. Leaders must consider more factors; they cannot use the past to predict a uncertain future. In the past, according to the authors, “Evolution made people pretty good at making decisions according to what worked in the past. But in many circumstances, previously reliable understandings no longer apply. Mastering this necessary new skill means forming new habits of mind.

What are the new habits we need to incorporate into our daily lives?

Serling reminds us at the end of the episode the future is uncertain and those trying to rig the system won’t survive, as the husband and wife end up dying over their selfish behavior with the camera.

Instead of looking for a camera, use the Berger and Johnston method.