What Change should You Champion in the next 12 months?
I have been involved in several “Change Movements” over the past 10 years. In each case, someone would initiate a “call for Change Leaders” that would quickly attract many people with great interest and passion. Several online meetings would confirm everyone’s interest in “making a meaningful difference in the world.” And then, the effort would stall and the person starting the effort would grow frustrated and eventually stop convening the group.
In discussing this cycle with some of those involved, I believe there is a core desire among people to improve the world around them, yet they face three barriers that limit their progress.
First is the time factor — there is low commitment required to “talk” about a vision for change that meets the reality of the time required to do anything. However, we know how to address this challenge by chunking the larger effort into small pieces that lead to small wins, thereby not only gaining some progress but reinforcing the effort extended.
Still, there is often some pessimism that our vision is too much for us and we would only be wasting our time. This second barrier is driven by our isolation — it is very lonely working alone, especially without the encouragement from others. There is also a need to view progress as directional movement, not necessarily reaching a goal. If our pessimism keeps us from taking a first step, we will be no closer to our goal next year than we are today.
A third limitation is fear of incompetence — fear of failing, so why try? This is also self-limiting and ignores the many instances where we have faced challenges in the past and made the effort to try, learning along the way.
When objectively evaluated, each of these barriers can be overcome by collaborating with others — learning together and encouraging each other. However, experience has shown that online meetings with passionate people are necessary, but not sufficient to get to the next level of gaining momentum in moving closer to our vision for change. Some structure is needed to form a collaborative effort — organizing around small chunks that are feasible and fully aligned with each person’s life goals. While there may be great enthusiasm in the large group, there is some challenge in determining a Focal Point for Action. Too often the focus is all over the place with each person bringing a personal vision, leaving “doing something meaningful together” as the common desire. Any action suggested may only slightly align with our individual passion or not at all. While we can offer encouragement and suggestions, an overly broad focus will not motivate us to take the next step of carving out some personal time since the ambiguous vision fails to reach the necessary prioritization to move us from follower to leader.
The challenge then is how to enable self-organization around small chunks of change. This has been the missing piece and requires three things for success. First is an awareness of the change visions other people have that are sometimes fragmented and unclear even to them. With awareness comes an ability to self-nominate interest in working together or introducing people who may have a similar interest or need. Along with this comes a second requirement “The Ask” where people identify how others can help them. Generally, people like being asked to help and oftentimes the help is easily given. Yet, we cannot overlook the third ingredient that is critical — encouragement.
Many visionary people have struggled with overcoming the barriers to developing a successful Change Community, but you have the ability if you also have the desire to do the groundwork. The idea is to self-organize around our personal visions for change.
· What is Your Big Change Goal?
· What would you like to accomplish in the next year to move closer to your Vision for Change — further your development, improving the organization where you work, or strengthening the community where you live?
· What is the first step you can take today that moves you one step forward?
What will you make of the coming year?
