3 ways to make positive change from under this dark crisis-cloud
9 months in to these dark and difficult times, almost none of us have been untouched by tragedy, fear, strain, isolation and/or anxiety.
And now, with 2nd lockdown, the fatigue is palpable - most of us are not on high-alert anymore, just resigned to a very long limbo where it’s boring 90% of the time, with flashes of scary.
But, for us whose job it is to drive positive change, we need to grasp the silver-lining: more people are more ready to take action than ever before, and in 3 critical ways:
1. Ideological Awakening: we are more alive than ever to the needs of those around us, and more frustrated than ever with the limitations of current action for change
2. Feeling Fortunate: those of us who have privilege, are more aware of it (many of us for the first time)
3. Able to Act: many people have much more available time, some people have more disposable income
Our critical role now is to remind people of the energy they had for helping others in the Spring and how much they enjoyed the satisfaction of a larger purpose.
1. Ideological Awakening: change should happen and change can happen
People want this experience to count for something. They want the shortcomings and injustices that have been so exposed during the pandemic to finally be addressed.
AND we know that action is possible; the pandemic has shown that where there is a political will, big changes can be funded and implemented overnight. Things that were once unimaginable – getting every UK rough sleeper off the streets in the space of 2 weeks! – have been achieved.
There are dozens of causes that have been amplified by this crisis: fair educational opportunity, fair pay for essential workers, safe housing, support for elderly and disabled people, racial injustice, greener cities, reducing international travel, community cohesion and volunteering, supporting struggling families.
Action: how can you use this change to further your work?
Capitalise on the heightened awareness and frustration with the status quo. A drive to resolve other apparently-intractable problems will gain huge traction with those who care about what you do.
2. Feeling fortunate: realising your comparative luck
Psychologically, one of the things that motivates us to act altruistically is the awareness that we are better off than other people. This pandemic has vastly increased the number of people who realise that, though we may all be in the same storm, we are definitely not all in the same boat.
Action: how can you use this change to further your work?
Offer people who feel lucky, achievable ways to share some of their privilege. Many of us have offered our time and friendship, shared things that other people could use, made donations or lent our voice to a campaign.
NB Don’t stray into guilt-trip - this is not about waking people up to their complicity in global injustice, this is about nurturing people to take actions.
3. Able to Act: people have greater resources
Millions of us have stopped commuting or travelling for work, have had our social and cultural lives severely curtailed, have been put on furlough or lost our jobs – as a society, we have much more time on our hands. And those who have hung on to their jobs have less opportunities to spend their money - no expensive holidays, thrown out of restaurants and bars at 10pm. We also see spending in a slightly different way now – ‘eat out to help out’ crystallised the idea that every penny you spend, even the money you spend on buying yourself stuff, can be invested in businesses and organisations you care about.
Action: how can you use this change to further your work?
How can you enable people to volunteer remotely or locally? Can they use some of their spending-power to support ventures, organisations and institutions that they care about? What ways would they like to use what they have to help those who are faring worse than them?
Conclusion
If there are to be positive outcomes from this global tragedy, our sector will be critical in unlocking many of them.
Right now there is a heightened consciousness across society of the opportunity for change and our power to play a role. Now we just need to rouse a critical mass from their winter lockdown torpor and make the most of this window of opportunity.
Ilana Jackman is a fundraising coach and consultant, working across the charity sector to support good causes to do even more good.
Throughout this crisis, Ilana is offering free clinic sessions to any charitable organisation. Email ilana@ilanajackman.com