Unlock the power of imagination and discover why it might be the single-most underrated professional skill for people leading public gardens, conservation agencies, and other outdoor fields.
It’s June. Ushered by a chorus of cicadas, summer’s rhythms settle in, light lingers in the sky, and time just feels a little more elastic.
With daylight stretching long past dinner, I start to believe it might just be possible, after all, to do all sorts of things I long to try. Of course, my list of big ideas invariably grows beyond the hours available. The point though, is that this time of year, ideas just tend to flow. Possibility fills the air. And that’s what we’re tapping into this month.
Throughout these drawn-out days of June, The Communications Naturalist invites you to ask, What If . . . ?
But first, let’s pause and reflect on this notion, Possibility. For now, focus on just the word itself. If you like, say it out loud. What feelings or sensations does it bring up for you? Does it feel expansive? Exciting? Uncertain? Scary? What is the opposite of possibility? How does that feel?
For many of us, being open to possibility might take a little practice. That’s okay. If it feels unnatural at first, just think back to your childhood. You were probably an expert at imaginative play, and you still have that potential. As we grow, it’s easy to become more preoccupied with what is rather than what could be.
Which brings us to our central question: Why should people like botanical garden directors, conservation agency leaders, or ecotourism advocates care about igniting their imaginations?
Imagination isn’t just child’s play. Intentionally sharpening this skill can break through barriers that are stifling your mission, grab the attention of your audience anew, and improve the way you experience your career from day to day.
I hope the ideas explored this month through The Communications Naturalist will inspire you to tap into the power of possibility to identify tangible ways to make your mission stronger and your work life more enjoyable.
In the wonderful words of Vietnamese American poet and essayist Ocean Vuong: “We often tell our students the future is in your hands. But I think the future is actually in your mouth. You have to articulate the world you want to live in first.”
Vuong’s words resonate with me deeply. Only I would say, the future begins in our minds:
To articulate what we want our world to be, we must first imagine it.
. . .
Let’s test that notion with a quick thought exercise.
If you like, grab a notebook and your favorite pen: the one that glides across the page and doesn’t smudge. I’ll wait.
Now, taking no more than two minutes per question, jot down anything that comes up:
What would make the biggest difference for your work life right now? Meeting a certain goal? Delegating certain tasks? Solving a particularly stubborn problem?
What if that happened? How would your botanical garden or public outdoor space benefit?
What limiting beliefs might make you believe a solution is not possible?
What is your most outlandish wish for your professional legacy? Why?
The fact is, we have more power than we think to create the kind of world we want to live in every day.
What you have written is the beginning of a better day for your work and your work-life. Don’t worry if you have more questions than answers, at this stage. There should be. This is only a beginning.
. . .
Imagination and professional development
When I worked as a copywriter and a creative director for a full-service ad firm, extreme value was placed on creativity and imagination. These states weren’t just thought of as inherent traits one either had or didn’t, but professional skills that could (and should) be intentionally, constantly sharpened.
When I transitioned into public gardens, I was disappointed to find that imagination and creativity were not nearly as valued in that field. At least not on the surface.
The question of “what if” seemed to belong solely to the scientific side of certain horticultural tasks (what if we apply two different treatments for spider mites and see which works best?). Yet, we had an audience to attract, financial limitations to overcome, and a mission to uphold that was constantly at risk of taking a back seat to urgent workaday demands. If those problems don’t call for creativity, I don’t know what does.
It’s not that we weren’t using our imaginations; it’s that there wasn’t a culture of continually and deliberately cultivating imagination as a professional skill. That’s why I’ve chosen to emphasize this concept for outdoor and environmental brand leaders this June.
The question we should all(ways) be asking
In reality, creativity and design-thinking are for everyone. These skills help us imagine what could be, and give us a framework for getting there. To learn exactly how, follow The Communications Naturalist all month on Instagram, LinkedIn, and here on the Field Notes Journal blog as we ask “what if” and open up to possibilities. We’ll talk about:
- Noticing when to question norms and ask what’s possible
- What If creativity was a habit? Fostering imagination in yourself and your team
- No-fail techniques for capturing ideas to save for future action
- Why not everyone can see the possibilities at first, and what to do about it
- Creative delegating (even when there’s nobody to delegate to) to maximize your mission
- How to look for new ways to overcome stubborn obstacles
- Sparking imagination in supporters–and would-be opponents
- The art of job crafting and the joy of day-crafting
Like berries ripe for the picking, we’ll share bite-sized quotes on possibility, imagination, and the future on Instagram. Look for perspectives from environmental activist and author Rachel Carson, The Secret Garden author Frances Hodgson Burnett, the great naturalist philosopher Aldo Leopold, and poet and essayist Ocean Vuong.
On LinkedIn, I’ll share more in-depth resources on design thinking, imagination, and creativity. And, as always, I’ll share lessons from the landscape, and true tales of communications in the wild.
Now, if you’re like me, anticipating the summer solstice has a literal darker side—the slightly saddening realization that each day after June 20 will be a little shorter than the last. But isn’t that all the more reason why now is the time to look inward and ask, what would make our days feel “lighter” for the rest of the year? Oh, the possibilities.