URGENT OPTIMISM

For leaders of mission-driven organizations, keeping a hopeful attitude is critical to meeting the inevitable challenges that arise. But how do you keep your attitude positive when things aren’t going your way?

In “Imaginable” by Jane McGonigal, the author introduces the concept of “urgent optimism.” In this state of mind, it’s possible to be realistic about the issues and risks ahead, while also keeping an open eye and heart as to how you can help to solve those issues and address the risks.

Urgent optimism is a powerful antidote to despair and overwhelm. It imbues you with the knowledge that “you have agency and the ability to use your unique talents, skills, and life experiences to create the world you want to live in.” That knowledge can power you and your team to keep striving for positive outcomes and new ways to address old issues.

How might you leverage this concept with your staff and volunteer teams?

• Create an inventory of the talents, skills, experiences and relationships your group can bring to bear on any given challenge. Who has professional expertise that might be useful? Who can connect you to someone else who can help?
• Develop a “many ways to win” mindset. While we can have a clear plan at the outset, we often must change strategies or navigate unexpected situations. If your original goal is unachievable, might there be other ways to “win” by advancing your mission and moving your organization further towards its big vision?
• Make sure you create sufficient urgency in your urgent optimism. You want your team to not just be hopeful about the future but bound and determined to make that future happen. Share stories of current impact and paint a vivid picture of what might happen (or not happen) based on the actions your team will take. Turn your vision from a “nice to have” to a “need to have.”

According to McGonigal, “Urgent optimism means you’re not staying awake all night worrying about what might happen. Instead, you’re leaping out of bed in the morning with a fire in your pants to do something about it.”

As we conclude a month of blogs all about Taking Action, I hope that the concept of urgent optimism will help give you the motivation and stamina to keep that activity level high all year long.

At DBD Group, we have a bias for action. Plans are great, but they’ll never go anywhere unless you take action. This month, the DBD team will be sharing ways for you to jump start your work in 2025.