Finding the Best Possible Outcome

If you attended the Global Leadership Summit in the last two years, you heard speaker Juliet Funt preach about the importance of white space, a space to find a pause. I say preach because while her techniques are intended to be used by people in their professional lives, she shares them with such passion, you might think you've been to church, and the concept of finding a space to pause is readily applicable to our faith life. The same is true about a technique she shared earlier this year in an article on the Global Leadership Network called "laddering up", excerpted below:

"I want to teach you a powerful exercise called 'laddering up'. This is a purposeful way of creating a positive daydream about your professional contribution to the world. It centers around the repeated question, 'What is the best possible outcome of that?'

A personal example: Let’s say I’m getting up at five in the morning to do a podcast interview about Zoom effectiveness. Am I truly inspired? I need to ladder up.

I need to ask, what is the best possible outcome of that? People everywhere would be on less Zoom calls every day.

And what is the best possible outcome of that? They would have more time for meaningful work and the workday would end earlier.

And what is the best possible outcome of that? They would have time for leisure and time with family.

And what is the best possible outcome of that? Close, connected, loving families.

Can I get up for close, connected, loving families? You bet I can."

Juliet also shares a corporate and non-profit example in her article. Like her other techniques, it can also be powerfully used in our life together at St. John the Divine. I'm thinking of, quite literally, "laddering up" to God's purpose for us in our roles at church.

So, here is a "church" example:

• Let's say that you are coming to church early to act as an usher.
• What is the best possible outcome of that? You provide a welcoming face to parishioners and visitors alike.
• And what is the best possible outcome of that? People have a warm and inviting experience from their first steps into the worship service.
• And what is the best possible outcome of that? People begin their worship ready to connect with God and each other.
• Can we get behind getting out of the house earlier and getting to church before everyone else to help people connect with God and one another? Definitely.

When we ladder up, we find the best possible outcome, which for us is sharing the good news within our community and beyond. Where can you practice "laddering up" in your life?

Watch Juliet Funt's video on laddering up here.