What do we do in a crisis? What do we do when the world we know has stopped because we’re locked away?

At Work in Progress  Progress were taking inspiration from what others are doing and saying. What will the work look like after this? What will our work look like after this? We’re imagining many possibilities. What will the needs or our students and customers be and how will we respond?

How will you respond?

The only certainty we have is that we know who we are, and what we want to do. We need to be ready to listen to what people need. Human values and human needs will be the work in progress.

Right now we can only imagine what the needs will be in this unexpected new era. What challenges  will we and our families face; our communities, employers, our countries?

Being Connected

Being connected and inspired by people to imagine new possibilities is where it starts for us. Starting the conversations and listening is the nest step.

In this period of lockdown, we’re scanning the horizon for inspiration. Which thought leaders are inspiring us? How can they trigger our thinking to reimagine our purpose

Limit situations take us forward if we let them

and contribution, as we emerge into a new world?

Last week in Work in Progress Billy Callway and I listened in live on line to ex-navy seal Jokko. Jokko shared his lived experiences in the field, how to make decisions in a crisis, and how to teach others to do the same. Billy Campbell told his story live of his survival on the plane that went down in the Hudson River. If you’ve seen the film ‘Sulley (Miracle on the Hudson) you’ll know Billy Campbell. Limit situations take us out of our programmed thinking, to thinking on an entirely new plane.

Maharaja from Fylde College

On Thursday night Maharaja from Fylde College joined us from his social isolation, in the WIP Live On line area as we explored ’How to stay mentally strong.’ We bounced around thoughts about what it feels like to be locked down on campus. Then together we listened live, to three ordinary people from across the globe, talking about how personal crisis and having to be mentally strong in crisis had been the pivot to finding their purpose and work.

We left both sessions inspired, but with more questions than answers. Uncertainty and new questions seeded are the real value in these sessions. Other people’s experiences give you new perspectives to reflect on your own challenges and potential; if you take the time out to reflect.

Digging for your potential

It’s reflecting, and then digging around a bit to unearth clues to some of these questions ,that starts our journey of personal discovery about our potential and what we might do in the future. A dose of crisis is this space to explore and reflect.

The crisis is real. It’s a time of pain and suffering. If we look to the laws of the natural world, it will become a time of creativity and rebirth.  This strange moment is a window of opportunity, if we allow the limits to take our thinking to a whole new plane.

As Jokko said, in a crisis, you step back, relax, assess, look around you, take your best guess, and take a shot. Any small step towards what you believe will be right.

Conversations and inspiration for a new era

If you want to hook up with me and Billy to hear forthcoming on line talks, to seed new conversations and questions, join us tonight, this Thursday and Thursday and over the Easter Break.

Tonight we’ll be listening to peers at MIT discuss ‘Making the Ethical Decision’ and how we can use our business and skills for good and not for profiteering. It’s a question close to our hearts and an important one in this new era.

Everyone and all ideas and perspectives welcome. No need to book, just turn up. Follow the links and instructions here in Target Connect.

You can listen to Jokko and Billy’s Stories here.

Amanda Brooks

Work in Progress