A commercial airline commits numerous resources to selling as many seats as possible on every departing plane. A ski area is less fixated on the number of empty seats on the ski lift. Ski reports are more focused on selling tickets, passes, food, lessons, and other point-of-sale opportunities.
When we produce an event/program, do we measure its impact by the number of attendees or the depth of engagement of those who participate?
A ferry passing in the shadow of a lighthouse is usually on course. Further out, the lighthouse serves its greatest service. The first sight of the beam of light provides an initial point of engagement and alignment.
How might we recognize that those who make it into our organization probably engaged with our enterprise somewhere further afield and have been en route for some time?
If you take a paper bag and aim a hair dryer towards its open end, the bag’s kinetic energy is released and assumes flight. A bag is an excellent option if we need to hold some produce, and a hair dryer is perfect if we need to dry our hair after a shower. When we pair them together, we get a dramatic result, which may or may not reveal the most productive use of both instruments.
When odd pairings work, they are sensational but can also fail us. Iterating in the design studio is an excellent option if we are willing to go on the adventure and open to uncertain outcomes. If we need a sure thing, we might hedge towards the predictable.
Booking two artists/authors/scientists/athletes to interview each other might be an insightful option. However, they might speak an insider language that is hard for the audience to access. A good interviewer can ask questions that help decode the artist’s superpower without abandoning the audience.
A hair dryer chasing a paper bag around a stage might be the pinnacle of performance art. But we must accurately represent the performance so our audience can live on the edge.
Head to the polls, secure a ballot and vote. Vote on every issue. Vote for a single candidate. Or return a blank ballot. Participate in the process. Be heard, be present, be engaged, be unique.
You received a single-ride ticket; how do you choose to use it? It retains no value and cannot be redeemed after Election Day. Participation is your superpower.
If you make everything “important,” it is challenging for the essential information to reach your target. As a listener, it takes a lot of energy to absorb too many communications that are all prioritized the same.
Is the above image an overexposed daytime shot or an underexposed nighttime photograph? When we are uncertain about the subject, it can frustrate us or increase our curiosity. If a full moon presents itself during a meteor shower, we probably miss the best viewing opportunities, but we might search for meteors visible on the periphery. If heavy clouds fill the evening sky, we might quickly give up hope of any viewing opportunities.
Shadows create opportunities to engage others more profoundly and create additional meaning. Or, they can isolate us and keep us from being visible to those searching for our services. How might we position ourselves so shadows add depth and dimension but do not obfuscate our work?
Is heckling a statue worth the effort? What is gained by directing our grievances towards an inanimate object? Is the statue an iconic representation of a person or movement that is the nexus for exchanging points of view? Are there other ways to share our message with individuals who might contribute a response?
How might we amplify our message? Are you finding the best stage from which to deliver our viewpoint?
What are the five most important things your organization has forgotten?
What if you invited former board, staff, volunteers, and key insiders back for a round table (virtual, in-person, or hybrid)? If you provide them with an update on the state of the organization and then ask, ‘What are we missing and/or forgetting?‘
I work with several nonprofit boards that have term limits. As board members transition to former board members, the amount of institutional knowledge that evades transfer is overwhelming. It is not always obvious items but often the peripheral pieces.
How might we benefit from those who have proceeded us? How might those who have served continue to fuel the journey with their knowledge and networks? How might ‘end of term’ not mean ‘out of touch?’
Airport baggage carousels are interesting devices. A lot of infrastructure and space is dedicated to the luggage retrieval process. When many flights arrive simultaneously, each carousel operates at high capacity. Visit the baggage area between busy periods, and the design appears dated. If a courier delivers packages directly to my doorstep, why can an airline not reunite baggage and passengers in a more personalized manner?
When operations are at full capacity, questioning utilization and design is more demanding. Visit the same site during a slow period, and the respite provides more opportunities for reflection.
How might we embrace generative inquiry during our more relaxed moments and assess if we are trying to solve problems when full or empty?
List the five essential rules to successfully merge into your team’s culture? What are the five most important documents/books a new member of your team should consult? Who are the five most important individuals a person should meet early in their tenure? What are the five most important stories about your cause they should know?
Looking for some inspiration, Vu Le has a refreshing look at seven post-pandemic rules the social sector should embrace.
What-if-concepts 