If we proceed at river speed, our ability to navigate is minimal. If we paddle faster or slower (against the current), our ability to make significant maneuvers is greatly increased. Go for the ride when you can, it nice to be swept along by the current. However, if we need to take action or move across the river body, then adding power may be the most effective way to navigate.
How might we toggle between the river current and paddling with power in our own work?
Who is your guide to navigating the terrain ahead? Who can interpret the spaces and blank spots on the map? Roadside attractions are easier to reach with their interpretative signs and pullouts. The landscapes that lack features often test our wayfinding skills the most. How might we prepare for the isolated and desolated sections of our journey with as much care as we commit to reaching the iconic summits?
It is convenient to see a commercial airplane as a uniform piece of aviation equipment. However, focusing only on the control surfaces adds depth and dimension to our understanding of all the possible inputs that impact operations.
How might we illustrate the control surfaces of our own enterprises without overwhelming our audience? Super fans might desire more information, but casual observers might be better served with a more basic orientation. How might we decode our work to build a better understanding of the expertise it takes to keep our organization aloft?
Just because you have a key, it may not be the right one for the vehicle you are trying to start. If you have a template/framework/idea/donor/board member/network from another cause does not mean it will work for your current enterprise. The right key and the right vehicle are essential to initiate your journey. Just as the right resource must match the culture and needs of the organization you intend to serve.
There are circumstances in which a local expert delivers an invaluable service and possesses the required resources to ensure we arrive safely. How might we invest in local experts when the conditions (and risk assessment) benefit our work and allow us to traverse the high-exposure terrain?
When the conditions are right, I can see the horizon line from the right viewpoint, and if someone designs a functional orientation point, I can align myself. However, imagining the future we are trying to create is harder when obstacles appear.
How might we provide the proper orientation for those we serve? How might we set people up for success? How might we provide a sense of the work that matters for those seeking to fuel our journey? One requires end-user empathy. The other relies on wayfinding attributes.
A water fountain requires little maintenance but provides essential fuel (hydration) for those who pass. A thirsty hiker, cyclist, runner, hot canine, and many others benefit from a good water source’s self-service, always-on nature.
What services do you provide that are easy to use, simply designed, and require little labor to monitor?
The road ahead is enticing when revealed on a far-off vista. Reaching it may be arduous, but when it exposes itself, it provides confirmation that there is a possibility for the journey to continue. Good sightlines make wayfinding visible.
How do you respond if somebody asks you to share your ‘future resume’? Do you have a mindset that spends as much time crafting a future resume as you spend on a resume that captures past achievements? This is the approach employed by the Savannah Bananas baseball team when they hire new team members.
What if you try this activity with your team. Take a few minutes to draft a future resume; it may be enlightening.
What mountain have you identified to summit? What if you find out you are climbing a different peak than selected? Do you stop your ascent and downclimb? Do you continue upwards, using this climb to enhance your performance for the next expedition? Do you abandon the entire project?
If our passion is climbing, we will likely continue, despite being on a different route than intended. If our goal is a specific summit, we will likely reroute to the planned ascent. If our hope was to curate an amazing narrative, we might use this detour to enhance our story. Being specific when we identify our intentions makes decision-making easier when we reach an inflection point.
What-if-concepts 