What Do People Really Want? Why Optimism is the Ultimate Learning Strategy
As the UK finds itself with a new Prime Minister, I have been thinking about what went so wrong for the last incumbent. Now, I am not a political analyst, and my thinking here is very much a personal perspective, but for all the decency of Sir Keir Starmer - perhaps what was missed most was a narrative of optimism.
It took me back to my notes from the Future Talent Council Summit that I attended last month and to a keynote delivered by David Bach, President of IMD Business School. He offered an astute assessment of the current global stage, the complex challenges we face, and what these mean for our economies and our relationships with one another.
His message was striking: navigating today's world requires a fundamental shift and a new set of priorities. But it wasn't the money or the political will that he feared was missing - it was optimism.
Without optimism, there is no motivation to invest in innovation. And without innovation, economic and social opportunities simply stall.
To maintain a culture in which the right kind of change is possible - and where we can flourish as true 'navigators' - Professor Bach identified core features for leading through disruption, which include (and which I have represented here):
Know your limits: Recognise the boundaries of your own knowledge. In an age of information overload, knowing what we know - and actively questioning what we don't - is critical.
It is okay to get it wrong: In the midst of complex challenges, waiting until we are 100% certain before taking action is not an option. It is far better to give it a go.
The story goes a long way: Having a clear direction is necessary, but it is also important to know what you are contributing to - what’s the story you are seeking to tell?
Resilience at every level: Builds the capacity to absorb shocks, adapt, and keep moving forward.
The cultivation of optimism: Hope is motivating - building a confidence that allows us to dare to hope - is worth investing in!
His message - aimed at leaders, has real application to the day to day learning environments and interactions that we explore and apply as part of Learning Allowed’s LEARN 2050®.
Take a moment and think about how these apply in the context you are in as an educator and/or a learner.
That message of optimism, if it can be achieved, is infectious and offers an important starting point for any of us seeking to create a vibrant learning community (or perhaps run a country).
Check out our LEARN 2050® space to explore a community that you can be part of!
