I heard the following statement recently in a conversation about disaster planning and recovery:
Failure in disaster planning almost always results from a lack of imagination.
I found that statement to be particularly thought provoking. Too often we assume that top-down, technocratic / centralized-planning style leadership is the only thing that can “save us” when tragedy or a crisis hits. Actually, more often what we need are creative, imaginative leaders who have excellent interpersonal and networking skills as well as a good imagination. Don’t get me wrong, we also DO need thorough planning to the extent that it is possible. When an unexpected crisis hits, however, planning alone will not suffice.
Good leadership matters, and so does a creative imagination. The truth of those statements can become glaringly apparent in a crisis when those in formal positions of leadership are “skill challenged” in the interpersonal and creativity “departments.”
My thinking along these lines has been highly influenced by Virginia Postrel’s book “The Future and Its Enemies: The Growing Conflict Over Creativity, Enterprise and Progress.” Check out Virginia’s blog at www.dynamist.com/weblog.
Technorati Tags: creativity, dynamist, leadership, postrel, puppy
If you enjoyed this post and found it useful, subscribe to Wes’ free newsletter. Check out Wes’ video tutorial library, “Playing with Media.” Information about more ways to learn with Dr. Wesley Fryer are available on wesfryer.com/after.
On this day..
- 5 Reasons You Should Join Me on Mastodon – 2017
- Cognitive Dissonance and Segregated Oklahoma Schools – 2015
- Find and Use the Best Channel for Home WiFi with Wireless Diagnostics – 2014
- Save a TeacherTube Video Temporarily to Your Laptop – 2012
- US debt and government borrowing must end now – 2011
- Creative Music Making on YouTube with Four iPhones – 2010
- Telling the story of last Friday’s PD in Maine with PhotoPeach – 2010
- Join me virtually Monday night for our local school board meeting on CoverItLive – 2009
- My 1st Gen MacBook doesn’t like heat – 2009
- Opinions about auto-blogged social bookmark lists? – 2008