The Chronicle of Philanthropy published an article yesterday that explored the concept of thinking way outside the box, which I believe is something we can gain from doing more of in our organizations. Always talking about our limitations is a stunting factor in organizational development and opening up to possibilities--even going so far as to imagine an ideal future--can be an eye-opening exercise that can yield ideas a nonprofit can put into action. The article, "Telling Stories of Future Success," primarily focuses on the work of the Center for Artistic Activism, which certainly has a point of view and its own ideology; however, thinking outside/beyond the box is a wonderful idea for organizations as well as individuals, regardless of their background politics.
A lot of what is discussed in the article reminds me of the book How to Re-Imagine the World by Anthony Weston. Much like the Center, Prof. Weston suggests right from the beginning of his book that "[A]ffirmative vision is crucial. Be emphatically, visibly, clear-headedly for something, and something that is worked out, widely compelling, and beautiful--not just against the problems or the powers-that-be of the moment."
Imagining an ideal future may seem silly--why waste time thinking about something that will never be?--but by aiming high an organization can hit lots of other incredible and valuable goals along the way while being stimulated and motivated by a dream of a wonderful future. That doesn't sound like a worthless exercise to me, but rather time well spent.
A lot of what is discussed in the article reminds me of the book How to Re-Imagine the World by Anthony Weston. Much like the Center, Prof. Weston suggests right from the beginning of his book that "[A]ffirmative vision is crucial. Be emphatically, visibly, clear-headedly for something, and something that is worked out, widely compelling, and beautiful--not just against the problems or the powers-that-be of the moment."
Imagining an ideal future may seem silly--why waste time thinking about something that will never be?--but by aiming high an organization can hit lots of other incredible and valuable goals along the way while being stimulated and motivated by a dream of a wonderful future. That doesn't sound like a worthless exercise to me, but rather time well spent.
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