“If it doesn’t work, we’ll try something else.”
Here are 3 reasons why this statement (or, generally, this mindset), is the most problematic and unproductive approach when it comes to planning advancement events, appeals, and other significant advancement activities:
First, it downgrades the importance of the planning process. When we take this type of dismissive attitude into our advancement planning efforts, we don’t give the planning itself the focus and care we should. “Let’s just try it and see,” can be a low key way to conclude planning before the hard thinking and important discussions really have occurred.
Second, it subtly encourages professional loafing. This thinking says, “We’ll give it an ‘ok effort,’ but if it doesn’t work, it was a bad idea, not bad execution.” It encourages all involved to take less ownership for the activity’s success. When we approach the planning of an important advancement activity with this type of attitude, the chances “it doesn’t work,” increase dramatically.
Finally, it dismisses the fundamental value of consistency in advancement work. When we change our annual calendars regularly due to a, “we tried that and it didn’t work,” mentality, we are not giving our various audiences time to adapt and adopt a consistent schedule, a tradition, or a giving cue. In advancement work, change is not always good. In fact, regular change can confuse our audiences and encourage their disengagement.
Planning, of course, is important.
But, perhaps, more important is the mindset we bring to the planning process.
“We will plan this activity thoughtfully and will commit ourselves to making it successful,” is far more helpful than, “If it doesn’t work, we’ll try something else.”
