Lead Through Change by Reimagining What's Possible

Key Concepts

• Possible Selves: Mental representations of what we might become in the future, influencing our current behavior and motivation.
• Moral Elevation: A positive emotional state triggered by witnessing virtuous acts, leading to neurological changes.
• Constrained Environments: Situations where anticipated futures are no longer viable, requiring exploration of alternative possibilities.
• Neurological Rewiring: The brain’s capacity to change and adapt based on experiences and emotional states.

The Challenge of Managing Change & Imagining Alternatives

Business experience consistently demonstrates a human difficulty in effectively managing change. This isn’t solely due to a preference for the familiar, but also a fundamental limitation in our ability to envision alternative futures. The speaker highlights that individuals often “needlessly constrain themselves” when faced with unexpected shifts, failing to fully explore the range of possibilities still available. This is particularly relevant when initial expectations about the future are disrupted – a universally experienced phenomenon where “life closes a bunch of doors.”

Possible Selves & Expanding Future Horizons

Research, detailed in a chapter titled “Possible Selves,” suggests concrete strategies exist to overcome this imaginative constraint. “Possible selves” are defined as the mental representations individuals hold of their potential future selves. Actively cultivating these possibilities is crucial for adapting to altered circumstances and identifying “newly available” paths. The core idea is to proactively broaden one’s understanding of what future states are attainable.

Moral Elevation as a Catalyst for Change

A specific technique presented is “moral elevation.” This refers to the positive emotional response – a “warm fuzzy feeling” – experienced when witnessing exceptional human behavior, such as courage, self-sacrifice, forgiveness, resilience, or dedication to others. Crucially, moral elevation isn’t merely a pleasant sensation; it has demonstrable neurological effects. The speaker states it can “actually change our brains” and “rewire our brains,” suggesting a capacity for fundamental shifts in perspective.

Application to Business Leadership

The speaker proposes translating this concept to a business context. While the “warm fuzzy feeling” might not be directly replicated, observing exemplary leadership in other businesses, from other leaders, can be profoundly impactful. Specifically, focusing on leaders who operate in ways that challenge conventional wisdom about leadership – those who demonstrate unexpected kindness or inspire through unconventional methods – can be transformative. This exposure to alternative leadership styles can “shift us as leaders too,” fostering adaptability and innovation. The emphasis is on identifying behaviors that “violate your understanding of what’s necessary to lead.”

Logical Connections & Synthesis

The argument progresses logically from identifying the problem of change management (and the inherent difficulty in imagining alternatives) to presenting a research-backed solution (possible selves) and a specific technique to activate that solution (moral elevation). The connection is strengthened by drawing a parallel between the personal experience of moral elevation and its potential application within a professional leadership framework.

The central takeaway is that proactively expanding one’s mental models of potential futures, and seeking inspiration from unexpected sources of virtuous behavior, can unlock adaptability and improve the capacity to navigate change effectively.