The Power of Possibility
What If
I am a process person. I love getting things done. I relish collaborative discussions that lead to new solutions and different ways of operating. I appreciate the calming down that happens in meditation, and the mental revving up that is needed to speak in public. I enjoy figuring out “the how” – the layers of color, the types of brushes and palettes, and the consistency of the paint – that goes into creating a work of art.
That’s all well and good until…the process is moving too slow, or is failing to deliver the intended results, or is bubbling up new and unexpected challenges for which I have neither the patience nor the bandwidth to address. Then, control sets in. I think if only we move faster, if only we push harder, if only we give it more energy then we will get the outcome we want. Inevitably, when I try to control a situation, it never works out. But it’s a difficult habit to break.
James Clear in “Atomic Habits” shares that "Progress requires unlearning. Becoming the best version of yourself requires you to continuously edit your beliefs, and to upgrade and expand your identity." The truth is this process takes courage. It is challenging to cast aside familiar ways of working and living and replace them with ways that are untried and uncertain. It demands faith in your capacity to continually grow and evolve as a human being.
I have begun to replace control with a focus on possibility instead. “What if” has become my new way of framing an unexpected challenge or circumstance. “What if” enables a more expansive view of the problem. “What if” allows breaking with old patterns. “What if” encourages learning from failure. “What if” opens me up to the prospects and risks that come with thinking beyond the immediate situation.
Here are some examples of questions I have asked myself to call forth possibilities:
What if I approach this issue as a creative leader rather than a budget manager?
What if I try to understand this problem from the perspective of the clients I’m trying to serve rather than the board to whom I report?
What if I focus on facts and actions, or even simply asking questions, rather than working to assert my particular perspective?
I have found that starting with a “what if” provides a pathway to identifying more clearly the problem and to distinguishing the first little steps that need to be taken in order to develop an innovative solution. In fact, it returns me to my love for process.
Embrace the power of possibility in the face of your next challenge.
Start with “what if” and let me know what happens. Set up a Discovery call today.