While every day offers the option for a reset, it seems that most of us use a specific point in time, anniversary, or significant life event to pause, reflect and begin again. Psychologists say that resetting involves re-centering or a fresh start, often aiming to clear mental clutter and negative patterns.
We have all at some point found ourselves heading down the wrong path faced with the choice to push forward or retrace our steps and start out again. If we are not careful, we can view this needed U-turn as time wasted, resources squandered or even failure. If you are the leader and your team has been following close on your heels, this change in direction can feel embarrassing and humbling. You might worry that others will questions your ability to lead.
I apologize in advance for breaking my own rule here, but I am going to bring up the pandemic just one last time. In my mind this was as close as we will ever come to a global reset. In a short time, we were all lost in the wilderness, unclear of where to turn, what to believe and how to move forward.
Looking back now, it is those leaders and organizations who not only paused to reset but then pushed forward to reimagine who led their organizations into a stronger position post-pandemic. In contrast to resetting, reimagining is about envisioning new possibilities and aligning future direction towards a clear vision.
I think we can all agree that we don’t need a global crisis to reimagine our goals and direction. In fact, we don’t need a special occasion, anniversary or event of any sort. We just need an open mind and a willingness to consider another way of approaching challenges.
Maybe we can start by asking better questions:
- What’s working well? What’s not?
- What about “here” is no longer acceptable?
- What would 1% better look like?
- Looking forward six months, how will we define success?
- When were we at our best? What has changed?
I have always loved the idea that in the early days of the space shuttle program, NASA reported that on its path to orbit, the shuttle was “off course” nearly 90% of the time. It was through constant resetting: monitoring and making micro adjustments that the shuttle arrived at its intended destination.
But the shuttle program itself was a reimagination of how orbital travel might work. What if rockets could be used more than once? What if they were as much like planes as they were like spaceships? The engineers at NASA knew how to both reset and reimagine as they drove progress forward.
Where are you headed? How are you monitoring and measuring your progress? What adjustments might be needed? Is it time to reset your route, or maybe to reimagine where you’re heading?
Its not rocket science (or is it?)
Safe travels!
Summer is the perfect time to step back, evaluate, and realign priorities. It is a perfect time to think through a purposeful reset of your fundraising and organizational strategies. Tips from the team at DBD Group will help you emerge energized and focused for the busy season ahead.
