This time of year is ideal for reflection and grounding, and for setting intentions for the year ahead.
Finding Clarity
Much of the work around intention-setting is about getting clear on what really matters to you. When we set personal and professional goals that miss the mark, are unrealistic, or are not aligned with our authentic purpose, we struggle to follow through.
One way to get clear on your personal and professional goals, and to set intentions around them, is to identify when you are most “in flow.” Flow means you are in a state of deep immersion in a task where “your whole being is involved and you’re using your skills to the utmost” (Csíkszentmihályi,1990) — a type of intrinsic motivation.
Flow Factors
Positive psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi identifies 10 factors that accompany flow; though not all of these factors need to be present:
- Clear goals that, while challenging, are still attainable
- Strong concentration and focused attention
- The activity is intrinsically rewarding
- Feelings of serenity; a loss of feelings of self-consciousness
- Timelessness; a distorted sense of time; feeling so focused on the present that you lose track of time passing
- Immediate feedback
- Knowing that the task is doable; a balance between skill level and the challenge presented
- Feelings of personal control over the situation and the outcome
- Lack of awareness of physical needs
- Complete focus on the activity itself
Discovering My Flow
One of the reasons I ventured into consulting and coaching after over a decade of full-time fundraising is that I was able to identify when I felt most in flow. It was when I was sharing best practices with colleagues and in service to people who needed support. And while it took me a while to make a career move in the direction of my “flow” state, the stark realization of when I was in flow and when I wasn’t became harder and harder to ignore.
Why Flow Matters in Fundraising
To be successful at fundraising, you need to:
- Have a goal
- Be passionate about your cause
- Be challenged (all the time)
- Be asked to stretch beyond your current skill level
It turns out that achieving a flow state involves these four things as well.
And yet, because there are so many daily demands in non-profit fundraising, my guess is that many Directors of Development or CEOs raising money are not able to identify when they are in flow, if they ever feel in flow at all (UnderDeveloped: A National Study of Challenges Facing Nonprofit Fundraising).
It’s critical to identify your flow not only because it will make you more successful at fundraising, but also because it will be the fuel that gets you from here to the finish line and be more efficient with your time.
Find Your Flow
Now is the time to make sure your annual plan is on track with your goals, and identify when you feel in your most “flow” state at work, and where you can adjust the plan accordingly.
My professional intention for 2019 is to help people achieve what they want, with as much ease and flow as possible.
I’d love to hear from you and see if I can help you achieve your goals and spend more time in flow.
Wishing you a very wonderful 2019!