Imagination, governing and the future of associations
November 23rd, 2009
In yesterday’s New York Times, Thomas Friedman argued that in America’s competition with China for 21st century leadership, the free and unfettered imagination of our citizens is a critical source of advantage that cannot be commoditized. But Friedman is very concerned about a second potential advantage we hold that may be eroding:
But while our culture of imagination is still vibrant, the other critical factor that still differentiates countries today — and is not a commodity — is good governance, which can harness creativity. And that we may be losing. I am talking about the ability of a society’s leaders to think long term, address their problems with the optimal legislation and attract capable people into government. What I increasingly fear today is that America is only able to produce “suboptimal” responses to its biggest problems — education, debt, financial regulation, health care, energy and environment.
As with our country, the long-term success of associations in the 21st century may well depend on whether we are able to govern in ways that nurture and unleash human passion, creativity and imagination in service of taming the wicked problems facing our organizations and the fields they serve, not to mention society as a whole. At the moment, however, it appears that association governing is mostly producing the same kinds of “suboptimal responses” against which Friedman warns.
In a time when unprecedented economic decline has made innovation an undeniable strategic imperative, risk aversion and the fear of failure within governing groups continue to undermine the kind of courageous decision-making associations need to create a more vibrant future. Challenging times require bold choices, not more of the traditional thinking and half measures with which so many governing groups have grown comfortable. Without question, the future of both of our country and our community are at stake.
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