In our most secret innermost hearts, we are all crows, dazzled by glittering, shiny, sparkling objects. Attracted to the glint and gleam. Driven to gather them up, gloating while appreciating the sheer novelty and joy of having them. And, this is not a bad thing! As Mary Oliver so wisely wrote, joy is not made to be a crumb and we should not limit our joy in these trying times.
However. There is a difference between taking joy in something shiny and new, and deciding that the shiny new thing is the answer to all our trials and tribulations. That the layer of glitter will fix all our woes. That we can gold-leaf our way to incredible success.
You may have heard this before: a senior leader just discovered Power BI (or a CRM used by a successful competitor, or a time management tool, or hosting walk ‘n learns) and it’s now the main topic of every conversation at work.
The “new” thing is everywhere you turn, cropping up in unexpected and completely inappropriate places. It gets wedged into issues that have nothing to do with the challenges it actually purports to solve. When you gently suggest that Power BI cannot, in fact, make people keep the shared kitchen area tidy, you get labeled an unbeliever and a roadblock.
Now, this is obviously the extreme example, and we trust that you understand that we are exaggerating for dramatic effect. Hyperbole aside, it can be discombobulating (especially when the shiny new object is in your realm of expertise) to be told about its many benefits and uses and to “get onboard” and “think creatively” about “optimizing our ways of doing.”
You are already onboard, thinking creatively, and coming up with ways to be even better.
Knowing that there will always be something newer and shinier on the horizon, can also be exhausting to contemplate—trying to keep up, and also to anticipate what might be the next big thing.
To which we say, don't.
Don't worry about trying to anticipate or keeping up. A better use of time and energy, when faced with a shiny thing being rammed down your gullet, is to—
Let's expand.
This is about change management. New things bring change and change is stressful. Stress can make you react in a way that is not helpful to you. Allow yourself to feel the discomfort and examine what is challenging about the change. Understanding your reactions and feelings is not a panacea but can be beneficial in preventing knee-jerk reactions. (Like laughing your senior leader out of the building when they grandly announce the new time management app is going to fix absenteeism.)
This is about keeping a growth mindset. Rather than dismissing the shiny new object as yet another silly Band-Aid solution, polish up that shine and learn about it. Be curious and interested. Even better, try to see it from your leader’s position. What about this thing is drawing them in? What benefits are they really hoping to harness? Sure, Power BI isn't going to make the shared kitchen tidier, but does it provide opportunities for greater cross-team collaboration that will improve communication?
This is about being professional. You may have very strong feelings and opinions about the shiny object that are diametrically opposed to your leader. And you are absolutely allowed to have them and to express them to your leader—in private. In public, you are aligned with your leader's vision. This does not mean that you're a cheerleader heading up the parade. It means that you are doing what makes sense in your role, to support what your leader is pushing. You think the new CRM McFancyPants is a bad idea? Express your concerns, then do what you can to explore and support the new CRM so it will benefit your organization—which might even include finding improvements in your current platform, fancy that.
This is about using critical thinking to uncover areas of improvement. What is your organization really talking about when they talk about doing walk ‘n talks? Maybe the root cause of the unproductive meetings is a lack of agendas and follow-ups. We’re not saying that you’re responsible for identifying and fixing all of your organization’s woes, but it's worthwhile to determine where you might be able to assist, even if it's kicking the idea up the ladder.
This is obviously just a start. But in our world of fast advances, faster communication, and fastest trends, starting somewhere to cut through being overwhelmed is better than being dragged along in the glittery wake of the next new thing. Avoid feeling overwhelmed, the fear of change, and the temptation to roll your eyes right out of your head. Grab your curiosity and imagination, and take in all the joy you can.
Katherine and Sarah are co-authors of the recently-released “From the Ground Up: Prospect Research for Nonprofits”, from Tangram Editions. Order your copy.
Katherine Scott is a prospect research and development professional with over a decade of experience working in philanthropy for a range of organizations including MSF Canada (Doctors without Borders), Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, Canadian Red Cross and Toronto Metropolitan University. She recently completed a successful six-year term as President of Apra Canada, the professional association for research, data, and prospect development professionals, and continues to be a mentor, speaker, and leader in the sector. kathmscott@gmail.com
Sarah Marcotte is a librarian by profession and by choice, and has almost 20 years of experience in the nonprofit space, focusing on prospect research, prospect management, and data management. She is currently Senior Specialist, Data Steward at SickKids Foundation, and has previously held senior roles in prospect research at Weizmann Canada, Canadian Red Cross, and SickKids Foundation. Sarah holds a BA from McGill and an MLIS from Western University, and has been a member of Apra Canada, Apra International, and the Special Libraries Association. sarah.e.marcotte@gmail.com
