NICK WRIGHT
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact

Captain Tom

22/4/2020

36 Comments

 
Picture

‘Just do it.’ (Nike)

Greenpeace hit the proverbial nail on the head when it coined the phrase, ‘The optimism of the action is better than the pessimism of the thought.’ It revealed deep psychological insight, especially when faced with near-insurmountable challenge. The action of a 99-year old war hero, Tom Moore, who raised over £28,000,000 this week to support the UK National Health Service, stands out as emblematic of a just-do-it spirit in the face of an invisible enemy. Covid 19 has left so many feeling anxious and powerless. Captain Tom’s action represents his, and our, fightback, resistance…hope.

And therein lies the crux of the matter. Hope. Jürgen Moltmann puts it starkly: ‘Hell is hopelessness.’ We need that feeling, that ability to look to the horizon with eyes filled with faith that, somehow, we will overcome. But how can we achieve that? First, by choosing. The act of choosing increases our sense of agency, of power. It’s about vision, decision, taking a stance. Then, by doing. The practical act of acting increases our sense of agency still further. It shifts us from passivity to proactivity, from helplessness to hopefulness. It involves gut-instinct, not over-thinking; making a difference…now.

Yet how does this square with, say, critical thinking, strategic planning and reflective practice? What if a course of action inspires in the moment and yet, in the bigger picture or longer-term, proves ineffective or, worse still, counter-productive? What if an action fails to address underlying ethical, cultural or systemic issues so that change is achieved, but without wider-deeper transformation? As leader, coach, OD or trainer, how to you evoke and harness the spontaneous energy of just-do-it action? How do you enable great thinking, without paralysis of analysis? How do you engender...hope?

(Captain Tom fundraising: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tomswalkforthenhs)
(Captain Tom/Bowie tribute video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiECYd0KBUs)
36 Comments
Lana Wildman
22/4/2020 06:04:25 pm

You can't course correct unless you're in motion. First, choose to believe better. Then figure it out. It's never going to go in a straight line any way, no matter how well prepared you try to be.

Reply
Nick Wright
22/4/2020 06:05:58 pm

Hi Lana. Well said. A true activist spirit! 😀

Reply
Lana Wildman
22/4/2020 06:29:43 pm

Activist wanna-be maybe! I've been the immobile thinker a long time and have finally realized where it's gotten me.

Nick Wright
22/4/2020 06:32:24 pm

Aaaah. It's never too late to be an activist. Take the next step...and you're there.

Mark Culmer
23/4/2020 12:45:45 pm

Both, and more, are needed...

Reply
Nick Wright
23/4/2020 12:46:24 pm

Hi Mark. I'm intrigued. Say more about the 'more'..?

Reply
Mark Culmer
23/4/2020 04:30:43 pm

Emotional, Intuitive, Embodiment - other ways of knowing, or use of other sources of data.

Nick Wright
23/4/2020 04:32:16 pm

Thanks Mark. Agree. On that theme, you may find this related article interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/just-do-it.html

John (Norval) Settle
23/4/2020 12:51:21 pm

An old Army adage is "do something even if it's wrong!" Personality typologies include those who are "ready-fire-aim" and "ready-aim-aim." In teaching negotiation skills, we cling to the idea that "all successful negotiations begin with good preparation" -- yet on-the-spot dynamics may be needed. Obviously, all settings require some "yin-yang" balance of forethought and intuitive action, and the finest leaders are capable of that balance.

Reply
Nick Wright
23/4/2020 12:59:19 pm

Thanks John. In my experience, some people are 'fire' first...then think about 'ready' and 'aim' as an afterthought. :) That's an interesting point about negotiations. I find something similar in writing articles, reports etc. I'm often advised by editors to plan and prepare first, whereas my preference is to start writing first, then to see what emerges into awareness as I do so. On the question of think first vs act first, you may find this short related piece interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/just-do-it

Reply
Mary Magner
23/4/2020 02:34:07 pm

"... from passivity to proactivity, from helplessness to hopefulness" sounds like a good thing to do.

Reply
Nick Wright
23/4/2020 02:34:41 pm

Thanks Mary. 😀

Reply
Alex Hewlett
23/4/2020 03:16:35 pm

Yep, I like that!

Reply
Nick Wright
23/4/2020 03:24:55 pm

Thanks Alex!

Reply
Debra Roberts
23/4/2020 05:36:55 pm

Hi Nick, my two penneth to your questions!

As a trainer, how to you evoke and harness the spontaneous energy of just-do-it action? By teamwork, if you get delegates to work as a team, this can build energy and exploring of ideas leading to actions/ activity
How do you enable great thinking, without paralysis of analysis? By engaging and exploring/ finding solutions to delegates concerns
How do you engender...hope? By exploring and showing known benefits

Questioning techniques help lay the path to the end goal.

Reply
Nick Wright
23/4/2020 06:11:33 pm

Thanks Debra. Interesting reflections. I like the idea of energy as something that emerges in the interaction between people, not just something that lays within an individual. I like your solutions-focus and attention to benefits too.

Reply
Jan Faulkner
23/4/2020 11:46:56 pm

Vision, decision, taking a stance... fear can prevent us from not just doing but also from learning. Stop, take time to break down the task into something manageable for you to see how it can be achieved. Only then can we learn and do new things that are out of our comfort zone. Great article, thanks Nick.

Reply
Nick Wright
23/4/2020 11:50:34 pm

Thank you, Jan. Yes, fear can hold us back from taking the next step and a defensive stance can prevent us from learning. Breaking down the task...or taking one step and seeing what becomes clear(er) from there...can make a big difference. Often, with each step comes greater confidence and energy for the next.

Reply
Raman Ventures
24/4/2020 08:33:22 am

Dear Nick, in any event, Thinking must always precede Doing! It has been well said that "men must think...machines must work!"

Reply
Nick Wright
24/4/2020 08:36:08 am

Hi Raman. Are you sure? Check this out: http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/just-do-it. Let me know what you think...or do! 😀

Reply
Julieann Alcorn
25/4/2020 11:33:25 pm

May be think before we do?!

Reply
Nick Wright
25/4/2020 11:34:28 pm

Hi Julieann. Maybe...! Check this out? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/just-do-it

Reply
Anne McGuire AMInstLM
26/4/2020 11:02:58 am

Don't let great thinking be the enemy of good action.

Reply
Nick Wright
26/4/2020 11:04:30 am

Hi Anne. Profound - and certainly resonates well with the spirit of the woman portrayed in this case example: http://www.nick-wright.com/a-radical-heart.html

Reply
Anne McGuire AMInstLM
26/4/2020 09:13:54 pm

Jasmin is a one woman tour de force for those around her. Thank you for a great read Nick.

Nick Wright
26/4/2020 09:14:42 pm

You're welcome, Anne. Yes, she has certainly had an impact on my life. Inspiring and terrifying...both at the same time!

Rajendra Grewal
27/4/2020 06:35:21 am

"Think like a man of action , act like a man of thought".

Reply
Nick Wright
27/4/2020 06:36:55 am

Hi Rajendra. ‘...or a woman...’ Indeed. 👍

Reply
Roger Millroy
29/4/2020 09:25:38 am

Dangerous to act without thinking first, acting rashly can be a disaster, practice mindfulness!

Reply
Nick Wright
29/4/2020 09:27:43 am

Hi Roger. Are you sure that’s always the case? You may find this short related piece interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/just-do-it

Reply
Andrew Horder
30/4/2020 10:56:35 am

Yep - while a certain level of consideration can be useful, over-thinking can keep you completely stuck. I realised a while back that most of the time deliberation= de-liberation!

PS: it's wonderful that Captain Tom is now an honorary Colonel on his 100th birthday!

Reply
Nick Wright
30/4/2020 10:58:37 am

Thanks Andrew. "deliberation= de-liberation" - I like that! On that theme, you may find this short related piece interesting? http://www.nick-wright.com/blog/procrastination

Reply
Jack Grosvenor
2/5/2020 07:05:44 am

Great achievers ... leaders that get great results are all about doing. Not thinking forever what to do... but taking action with knowledge and data and knowing you can course correct as you push forward.
While the rest of the organizations are planning ... make sure you have the courage and commitment to actively drive towards success.

Reply
Nick Wright
2/5/2020 07:18:48 am

Thanks Jack. That resonates for me and here’s the most radical and inspiring example I have encountered of courageous and committed leadership: http://www.nick-wright.com/a-radical-heart.html.

At the same time, great leaders (depending, of course, on what we consider and value as ‘great’) don’t just do without thinking either. It’s something about a synergy of thinking and doing that (and other factors such as high quality relationships) that ensures wisdom, transformation and success.

Reply
Paul Santos
20/5/2020 10:58:55 am

Great blog Nick. I like this quotation by Luigi Barzini: 'Enthusiasm grows stronger by action, but weaker through words. Speech is too reasoning a thing; it forsees all obstacles and mishaps: it is pessimistic. If every hero were made to discuss for a moment the brave act he or she is about to perform, heroism would perish. In great or original undertakings, many points must be left to chance; there must always be some facing of the unknown; the adventure must always be entered upon with a certain amount of un-reason. This un-reason is called audacity, and audacity is too incompatible with logic and common sense to survive a long scrutiny.'

Reply
Nick Wright
20/5/2020 11:00:07 am

Thank you, Paul. I love that quotation too! It captures and expresses the 'just do it' spirit perfectly.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ​Nick Wright

    ​I'm a psychological coach, trainer and OD consultant. Curious to discover how can I help you? ​Get in touch!

    Picture
    Like what you read? Simply enter your email address below to receive regular blog updates!
    Subscribe to Blog
    Picture
    Picture


    ​Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011

    Categories

    All
    Abc
    Ability
    Accountability
    Achievement
    Act
    Action
    Action Learning
    Activism
    Adaptability
    Adaptive
    Advent
    Adventure
    Africa
    Agency
    Agile
    Ambiguity
    Angle
    Anticipation
    Anxiety
    Appraisal
    Appreciation
    Appreciative
    Appreciative Inquiry
    Approach
    Argyris
    Asia
    Assumption
    Assumptions
    Asylum
    Attachment
    Attention
    Attitude
    Audience
    Authenticity
    Authority
    Autonomy
    Avoidance
    Awareness
    Behaviour
    Being
    Belief
    Beliefs
    Bias
    Bible
    Body Language
    Boundaries
    Brainstorming
    Brand
    Calling
    Care
    Career
    Censorship
    Challenge
    Change
    Character
    Charity
    Child
    Choice
    Choose
    Christ
    Christian
    Christmas
    Clarity
    Client
    Climate
    Coach
    Coaching
    Coactive
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Behavioural
    Commitment
    Communication
    Community
    Compassion
    Competence
    Competencies
    Complexity
    Concepts
    Conflict
    Confluence
    Congruence
    Consciousness
    Construct
    Constructs
    Construe
    Consultancy
    Contact
    Content
    Context
    Contracting
    Contribution
    Control
    Conversation
    Corruption
    Counselling
    Counterintiution
    Counterintuition
    Countertransference
    Courage
    Craziness
    Creativity
    Credibility
    Crisis
    Critical Consciousness
    Critical Reflection
    Critical Reflective Practice
    Critical Reflexivity
    Critical Thinking
    Critique
    Cross
    Cross Culture
    Cross-culture
    Culture
    Curiosity
    Customer Care
    Customers
    Customer Service
    Death
    Deception
    Decision
    Deconstruction
    Defence
    Defences
    Deferred Gratification
    Definition
    Delusion
    Democracy
    Depression
    Determination
    Development
    Deviance
    Deviant
    Diagnosis
    Disaster
    Discernment
    Disclosure
    Discovery
    Discrimination
    Disruptive
    Dissent
    Dissident
    Dissonance
    Distinctiveness
    Distortion
    Diversity
    Dream
    Dynamic
    Dynamics
    Easter
    Ecology
    Edge
    Edi
    Education
    Effectiveness
    Efficiency
    Ego State
    Eliciting
    Emergence
    Emotion
    Emotional
    Emotional Intelligence
    Empathy
    Empowerment
    Encouragement
    Energy
    Engagement
    Environment
    Equality
    Eternity
    Ethics
    Ethiopia
    Evaluation
    Evidence
    Evocative
    Existential
    Existentialism
    Expectation
    Expectations
    Experience
    Experiment
    Experimentation
    Exploration
    Explore
    Exposure
    Facilitation
    Faith
    Fear
    Feedback
    Feeling
    Feminism
    Figure
    Filter
    Fit
    Flashback
    Focus
    Forgiveness
    Framework
    Freedom
    Freud
    Fun
    Future
    Gender
    Geopolitical
    Geopolitics
    Gestalt
    Global
    Goal
    Goals
    God
    Gospel
    Grace
    Grief
    Grit
    Ground
    Group
    Guidance
    Healing
    Health
    Hear
    Heidegger
    Hero
    Hope
    Human
    Human Givens
    Humanity
    Human Resources
    Human Rights
    Humility
    Humour
    Hybrid
    Hypotheses
    Hypothesis
    Icon
    Ideation
    Identity
    Image
    Imagination
    Impact
    Impostor
    Inclusion
    Independence
    Influence
    INGO
    Initiative
    Injustice
    Innovation
    Inquiry
    Insecurity
    Insight
    Inspiration
    Instinct
    Integrity
    Intention
    Interdependence
    Interference
    International
    Interpretation
    Intimacy
    Introversion
    Intuition
    Invisible
    Jargon
    Jesus
    Journey
    Jungle
    Justice
    Keys
    Knowing
    Knowledge
    Labels
    Language
    Lateral Thinking
    Leader
    Leadership
    Learning
    Lesson
    Liberal
    Life
    Light
    Listening
    Logic
    Loss
    Love
    Management
    Manager
    Marathon
    Matrix
    Mbti
    Meaning
    Media
    Mediation
    Meetings
    Memory
    Mentoring
    Merit
    Metaphor
    Metaphysic
    Mindfulness
    Miracle
    Mirroring
    Misfit
    Mission
    Mode
    Morality
    Motivation
    Mystery
    Narrative
    Nazis
    Need
    Negotiation
    Neo-Nazi
    Networking
    News
    New Year
    Norm
    Norms
    Noticing
    Online
    Operations
    Opportunity
    Oppression
    Organisation
    Organisation Develoment
    Organisation Development
    Origin
    Pace
    Panic
    Paradigm
    Paradox
    Partnership
    Passion
    Pastoral
    Pattern Matching
    Peace
    People
    Perception
    Perfectionism
    Performance
    Perseverance
    Personal Constructs
    Personal Leadership
    Person Centred
    Perspective
    Phenomenology
    Phenomenon
    Philippines
    Philosophy
    Physicality
    Plan
    Plans
    Plato
    Play
    Plot
    Polarity
    Policy
    Politics
    Poor
    Positive
    Positive Psychology
    Posture
    Potential
    Potential#
    Poverty
    Power
    Practice
    Pragmatism
    Praxis
    Prayer
    Preference
    Preferences
    Prepare
    Presence
    Principles
    Priorities
    Priority
    Privilege
    Proactivity
    Problem Solving
    Process
    Professional
    Progressive
    Projection
    Projects
    Prompt
    Propaganda
    Protection
    Protest
    Providence
    Provocative
    Psychoanalysis
    Psychodynamic
    Psychodynamics
    Psychology
    Psychometrics
    Psychotherapy
    Purpose
    Quality
    Questions
    Race
    Radical
    Rational
    Rationale
    Rationalisation
    Rationality
    Reality
    Reason
    Reasoning
    Reconciliation
    Recruitment
    Reflect
    Reflection
    Reflective Practice
    Reflexivity
    Reframing
    Refugee
    Refugees
    Relationship
    Relationships
    Release
    Religion
    Representation
    Rescue
    Research
    Resilience
    Resonance
    Resourcefulness
    Responsibility
    Responsive
    Responsiveness
    Revelation
    Reward
    Rights
    Risk
    Role
    Role Model
    Rosabeth Moss-kanter
    Rules
    Sabbath
    Satire
    Satnav
    Saviour
    Schemata
    School
    Science
    Secure Base
    Security
    See
    Selection
    Selective Attention
    Self
    Sense Making
    Senses
    Sensitivity
    Serendipity
    Servant
    Shadow
    Significance
    Silence
    Sin
    Skills
    Social Construct
    Social Construction
    Social Constructionism
    Social Media
    Social Psychology
    Socrates
    Solution Focused
    Solutions
    Solutions Focus
    Solutions-focus
    Space
    Speed
    Spirit
    Spirituality
    Stance
    Stealth
    Stereotype
    Stereotypes
    Story
    Strategic
    Strategy
    Strengths
    Stress
    Stretch
    Structure
    Struggle
    Stuck
    Style
    Subconscious
    Subjectivity
    Success
    Suffering
    Supervision
    Support
    Survival
    Sustainability
    Symbol
    Symbolism
    Systems
    Systems Thinking
    TA
    Tactical
    Tactics
    Talent
    Teaching
    Team
    Teamwork
    Teenage
    Theology
    Theory
    Therapy
    Thinking
    Thought
    Time
    Touch
    Toys
    Traction
    Trade
    Tradition
    Training
    Transactional Analysis
    Transference
    Transformation
    Transition
    Transitional Object
    Trauma
    Trust
    Truth
    Uncertainty
    Unexpected
    Vallues
    Value
    Values
    Violence
    Visibility
    Vision
    Voice
    VUCA
    Vulnerability
    Vulnerable
    Waiting
    War
    Wealth
    Weird
    Wellbeing
    Will
    Willingness
    Window
    Wisdom
    Wonder
    Words
    World
    Worth
    Youth
    Zoom

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
  • Testimonials
  • Articles
    • Organisations and leadership
    • Learning and development
    • Coaching and counselling
  • Blog
  • e-Resources
  • News
  • Contact