How Worst-Case Thinking can Reveal Opportunities with Dr. Nardia Haigh - Episode 364
Oct 13, 2026
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In this episode of Dominate Your Day, I’m joined by Dr. Nardia Haigh, a professor, strategist, thought leader, and author who has spent nearly 20 years studying and practicing scenario planning. We talk about why so many leaders get stuck when making decisions in uncertain times—and how scenario planning can help you move from trying to predict the future to preparing for multiple possibilities.
Dr. Haigh shares how this powerful framework can be used not only in the boardroom, but also in our careers, businesses, and personal lives. We explore why looking at the worst-case scenario can actually uncover opportunities, challenge our assumptions, and leave us feeling more prepared and confident about what may come next.
Top 3 Takeaways
1. Scenario planning is not about predicting the future.
Scenario planning isn't about guessing what will happen. It's about considering multiple ways the future could unfold so you can build strategies that help you remain resilient.
2. The worst-case scenario can reveal opportunities.
Looking directly at what could go wrong can uncover blind spots, potential responses, and opportunities you may never have considered otherwise.
3. Thinking ahead creates confidence.
When you've already considered different possibilities and thought through how you might respond, you're less likely to simply react when uncertainty arrives. You can enter the future with options already in mind.
Episode Minutes:
- Minute 15:00 - How the worst-case scenario can reveal an opportunity
- Minute 24:00 - Scenario planning builds confidence, not certainty
- Minute 35:00 - Why it’s worth facing the uncomfortable scenario
Links + Resources from This Episode:
- Get a copy of Dr. Nardia Haigh’s book, Facing Uncertainty
- Download a free copy of her book’s introduction on her website
- Take the free 3-minute Authentic Imprint™ Assessment
- Get a copy of Dana’s book, The Internal Revolution: Lead Authentically and Build Your Personal Brand from Within
- Learn more about The Strengths Journal
About Dr. Nardia Haigh
Dr. Nardia Haigh helps people navigate uncertainty and find opportunity, even in worst-case scenarios. For nearly two decades, she's worked with businesses, nonprofits, policymakers, and students, teaching scenario planning as a tool for sharper decisions and turning risk into possibility.
She's the author of the award-winning book Scenario Planning for Climate Change, and her latest book, Facing Uncertainty, takes that same method out of the boardroom and beyond climate change, giving everyday people a practical way to plan for what's next in their own lives.
Nardia is an Associate Professor of Management and Principal of The Scenario Lab LLC. Outside of work, she's an avid traveler, amateur astronomer, and dedicated nature and wildlife observer, and she's grateful for the life she shares with her husband, Ed.
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