Those of you familiar with our work know how fond we are of Seth Godin’s “The Dip.” His concept of the dip – the place where all the energy and excitement of our exciting new project or campaign starts to fade – is relevant in all sorts of endeavors, including:
How do we get through these professional dips?
My recommendation is to make a PLAN for how to get through it.
This week a large group of YMCA professionals and volunteers will be traveling to Detroit, Michigan for the annual NAYDO conference experience. I would challenge those of you headed there to contemplate some of those dips you are currently dealing with, or can see on your horizon.
For our friends from other non-profits, schools and churches reading this, the same questions still apply. Is there a conference that may provide the same sharing opportunities for you? Are there staff and volunteers within your organization who would be willing to discuss the current situation you are facing and work with you to dig out of the trench? And finally, do you need an outside consultant to offer you a different view?
One of the strong premises in Godin’s work is that there are some times that the dip is a signal to stop doing something. Use your conversations to assess that question and if quit is not the answer, “lean into the dip” and find some help to move you forward.