Where I live, summer has about five weeks left on the calendar, but one week left in real life before kids head back to school and we all get back into fall routines. It’s an in-between time, and a season when my heart especially goes out to families anticipating big changes as their kids move into new stages (and parents are expected to adjust accordingly).
The focus of my practice is on helping organizations and individuals reimagine their next chapter. That skillset seems particularly necessary at this time of year.
So today I’m starting a series on reimagination: what it is, why it’s needed, and how to do it. Thankfully, it’s a learnable skill, and in-between times are fertile seasons for learning and creativity — so let’s go!
I love the vibe of the word “reimagine” and its multiple meanings. The two I lean into most often are:
- An invitation to reframe, rethink, redesign, refresh…reimagination is steeped in newness. It’s full of hope and possibilities.
- A challenge to reconnect with our imagination. As oh-so-serious adults, we have relegated imagination to child’s play, and I want to reclaim it for grownups.
That second meaning is why the iPad I use daily looks like this:
It’s a reminder not only to tap into my imagination, but also that adults are particularly well equipped to do so.
Why? Because our imaginations are grounded in our memories. We imagine new ideas using our existing storehouse of memories as a starting point. (Need an example? Try to imagine a new colour. Right now — I’ll wait. See how your brain goes quickly to colours you already know?) Adults have a big inventory of experiences, and therefore we have more inputs at our disposal when it comes to imagining new possibilities.
We’re just out of practice or a bit too focused. Exploratory curiosity rather than targeted research is what’s called for here.
I don’t know which of these aspects of reimagination you most need to tap into today, but consider this your invitation to take a big gulp of possibility and child-like exploration.
And join me as we consider over the next few weeks why reimagination is the strategy skill that leaders need now more than ever.