Crises Create Special Opportunities to pursue goals and address needs that might normally seem unnecessary, inappropriate or unacceptable. Why?
Crises Prompt People to Reject the Status Quo. The crises is dangerous and uncomfortable. During crises, change and decisive, dramatic action are necessary to restore safety and security.
The status quo is often fine during normal, comfortable times when everyone is happy. Some people may perceive a need and plead for change but the majority is unmoved. Why alter what's working so well?
Where there is no dissatisfaction or desire for change and no drive or motivation to do things differently, the status quo persists until something creates new needs and perceptions of danger.
We often have to consciously and rigorously reject our present circumstances before we are free to pursue new alternatives.
Beware - Crises Can Be Created to Cover Evil and to Justify Wrong Doing. It's easy to be so blinded by the urgency of the moment and frightened by dire predictions of danger that people loose site of reality and cherished values and ideals.
Crises Creates Urgency, Energy and Focused Attention on the Problem - Crises force us to address problems that otherwise have been ignored or dismissed.
Crises Compels Change - Crises change people and circumstances. Resolving a crises rarely means reverting back to the same status quo. Crises can and should be used to build a greater common good.
The Chinese Characters for Crises are Danger and Critical Point or Precipitous Point. Crises present major critical decisions points that disproportionally affect future well being. The impact of crises decisions often exceeds the extent and power of similar decisions in status quo situations.
A prominent political player recently quipped, "Crises Create Opportunities. Don't Let A Crises Go To Waste." Many very successful efforts and organizations have risen from the ashes of crises.
Use Crises to Further Worthwhile Goals and Address Long Term Needs That Seem Unimportant or Unnecessary in Normal Times.
Copyright © 1999-2008, Michele Moore. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This material may NOT be published, broadcast, distributed or rewritten permission from the authors.
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