How to Craft an Opportunity Statement
The dream beyond the hill isn’t worth pursuit when nightmares feel normal. An unacceptable present energizes dissatisfaction.
Dissatisfaction is the first step toward your dream.
Begin with a nightmare, see a dream, craft an opportunity statement.
Positive Dissatisfaction:
Don’t park in a nightmare. Turn dissatisfaction into forward-facing action.
Leaders act with the future in mind.
#1. Insults don’t motivate.
Don’t insult the people who built a dissatisfying present if you expect them to build a dream. If you must offend someone, point them at yourself. You led the team into the present situation. Own it.
Leaders who blame their team for an unacceptable present are insulting the people they led to build it.
Honor people; challenge the status quo.
#2. Positive dissatisfaction energizes.
“We could be more” creates positive dissatisfaction. “You suck” drains people.
“You have more in you” challenges. “You screwed up” defeats.
Use opportunity to energize change. Solving problems is important; seizing opportunities is essential. Emphasize the pull of possibility.
Opportunity is the heart of positive dissatisfaction.
#3. Craft an opportunity statement.
Definition shapes outcome. Problem-solving delivers short-term results. Opportunity-seizing delivers lasting change.
Definitions are boundaries.
Craft an opportunity statement with your team. Acknowledge past problems. Focus on the future.
Opportunity statements must:
- Go beyond problem-solving.
- Express values and touch hearts.
- Fulfill meaningful purpose and fuel energy.
- Provide compelling goals.
- Build on strengths.
- Galvanize teams.
- Explain short-term wins and include rewards.
Fix problems by seizing opportunities.
What’s your takeaway from this post?
How can leaders turn opportunities into problems?
Read John Kotter’s book, “Leading Change” if you want to go deeper.
I had to read the opening twice becauee I was not sure where this was going – but then I thought …”This could be more” creates positive dissatisfaction. And so I opened the blog and saw that “This had much more to it” challenges myself to peel back a layer, explore more; because I had a hunch – knowing your style – I could find a light bulb moment, I found several, Dan! Thank you.
“Opportunity is the heart of positive dissatisfaction.” – “Definitions are boundaries! ” Right there!!! I definitely have to own this one.
I liked the question “How can leaders turn opportunities into problems?” Though I suspect you meant to write it the other way, I have seen far too many people turn opportunities into problems and then wonder why they fail. Or wonder why others succeed. They blame everything (including luck) except their own inability to recognize an opportunity and make it into an achievable goal.
A CEO (I forget his name) used to ask his team: “What can we do that has never been done before?” Great question to expand people’s thinking and begin the process of creating an opportunity statement.
Where can I find exemplars of opportunity statements?