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.

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Previously Published on leadershipfreak with Creative Commons License

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