Good evening from a rainy Vancouver….

I've been thinking about risk this week. I've been teaching some governance courses and have been reminded of a key learning moment in my career. Almost 20 years ago, working with a subject matter expert building a basic wealth management course that was supposed to introduce credit union staff to mutual funds and other investment instruments so that they could better refer their member/customers to the experts on staff. The subject matter expert was trying to teach me a concept and my mind was not catching on. She turned to me, more than a little frustrated, and said, "Alisdair, all you have to remember is that the market is based on two emotions: fear and greed!"

I wonder if we, the western world, have been living in a period of 'fear' since September 11, 2001, and so 'risk' has become our major focus for many of us. Think about airline travel, politics, financial services and industry. Risk and fear surround us, and they have been hyped up in the dialogue society has with media over the last 13 years incessantly.

As I said this week in the meeting rooms, what's the risk of spending too much time focused on risk? One of the implications is that we stagnate. We freeze up in our fear. And human societies that freeze up in fear do not survive. We are a creative species, we need to create, to imagine possibilities of health, growth and a new future.  There are many dangers out there, but to sit at home in front of reality TV instead of taking some risks and going on adventures ourselves will kill us.

And as leaders we need to take the first steps; to go for it, to show the way. So next time you’re in a meeting and someone makes a suggestion or has a new idea, just say, “good idea.”  I’m serious, just say “good idea,” and then invite other ideas. Don’t over analyze, welcome the ideas. As the old Kenny Rogers song goes, “there’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.”

We live in a time and place where we need new ideas, new possibilities, and it starts with our daily work lives. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by what happens when you say, “good idea.” 

 May this week be filled with new ideas!