Leadership First posted the graphic below and inspired me to have a gratitude moment. It made me think about detours in the professional sense. What is a detour in one’s career? One thing that comes to mind is an unplanned job change. I was talking with a person in my network who had been impacted by a merger and felt naturally unsettled, personally and professionally. She was joining a new team, getting a new supervisor, and the owner she enjoyed working closely with was no longer going to be an active part of the organization. She saw this as a moment of stress but I asked her, “what if you like this new arrangement more?”
Our call inspired me to think about my own team. Less than two years ago, I was new to them. I want them to feel excited coming to work every day. I want them to feel connected to the mission and have a sense of purpose. I want every person to remember the energy they felt on their first day and bring that same passion with them throughout their tenure. What I don’t want them to do is dread change. We spend the majority of our waking hours at work, connecting to mission and purpose are important elements in finding joy. You can read more about that here.
Have you ever been on a plane and you end up circling the airport multiple times before landing? Maybe you end up circling the area multiple times before landing. Why are you circling? Often it’s due to weather. There is a storm in the area, there are strong gusts at the lower levels, if you landed it would jeopardize your safety. I never associated that particular delay with a detour but now I’m inclined to think differently. Detours protect you when the bridge is out, the weather is bad, or there is danger ahead. The holding pattern you are in today is to keep you safe until what comes next is ready for you. Is it where you want to be? No. Is it better than where you could end up if you landed in the storm? Absolutely.
What if we apply the same context to fundraising? Have you ever sent a proposal to a donor that you were sure was interested in a project only to hear nothing? I have. You follow up and it’s dead air. You cannot imagine what went wrong. In my experience, that donor put you in on a detour loop. They kept you there rather than declining your proposal because something wasn’t right on their end. When their situation resolved, they reengaged with you and the plane landed. It’s happened to me more than once.
Having had the benefit of living through circumstances like this and realizing positive outcomes in due course, I have learned not to panic. Change isn’t inherently bad. If you haven’t been on your own detour, it can be unsettling. Patience is a virtue. You don’t want to be on the detour but you don’t want the door closed either. Which is worse? In this example, it’s the door closing. Take a moment to recognize the importance of patience and recognize the detour. It may come with a feeling of gratitude. Remember, gratitude and patience are both attributes we can cultivate and apply with intentionality.
When you face your next challenge take a moment to recognize when you are encountering a detour. Then think about the alternatives. You’ll likely be grateful for the holding pattern you’ve been placed in.
