3 tips for choosing your mode for improving the world

Imagine that you want to do good work that improves the world. In the old days people were often told: “If you want to change the world, join an organisation - because they have the power to making things happen. If you want to change an organisation, join it - because then you can change it from within.” Sounds reasonable - but it is only part of the story. There are at least three modes for doing superb work. Improvements happen through the efforts of: 1) individuals; 2) interest groups; 3) institutions. Let’s explore these different vehicles for using your talents to build a better world.

* You can work as an individual contributor.

There are many ways to use your ‘A’ talent as an individual contributor. You can work as an artist, writer, journalist, inventor, entrepreneur, educator, carer, sole trader or whatever. Frequently it is individuals who light the fire that inspires other people. Rachel Carson helped to give birth to the environmental movement with her book Silent Spring. Jamie Oliver promoted healthy eating with his TV series about school dinners. Cicely Saunders launched the modern hospice movement in the UK by setting up St.Christophers Hospice.

Working as an individual has both pluses and minuses. The pluses include: feeling in control; using your strengths; setting your own goals; following your preferred working style; sensing ‘it is up to me’; feeling satisfied when reaching the goals. The minuses may include: feeling alone; having limited influence as an individual; needing a supportive infrastructure. Let’s move onto the second way of working.

* You can work as part of an interest group.

There are many different kinds of interest groups - people who combine their energies to pursue a certain agenda. You may immediately point to movements such as Amnesty International and Medecins Sans Frontieres. But some businesses also act as dynamic ‘interest groups’ that improve the world. Many companies claim this is their intention - but some can do so with greater authority. Some hi-tech companies, for example, can claim: a) to provide products that help people to take charge of their lives; b) to demonstrate more humanistic ways of working.

Working as part of an interest group has both pluses and minuses. The pluses include: combining with others to make a difference; setting clear goals; enjoying a back-up infrastructure; drawing strength from others; having greater leverage than when working alone. The minuses may include: losing some autonomy; infighting over conflicting agendas. Let’s move onto the third way of working.

* You can work as part of an institution.

There are many different kinds of institutions - such as large charities, organisations and companies. You may feel that your strengths are suited to such an environment. The pluses include: being part of something with massive leverage; having great resources; being able to affect many people’s lives; getting changes institutionalised in societies. The minuses may include: getting lost in the machine; meeting difficulty in changing the institution from within; spending masses of time on internal processes. Certainly it is possible to change institutions, but you must have the power to do radical surgery.

So how do improvements happen? Frequently they start with individuals who provide the ideas, models or prototypes. These are picked-up and implemented by interest groups. Finally, institutions may try to ensure these become part of daily life. People can contribute most by choosing their best way of working. Looking at the three modes, which one - or which combination - do you prefer? Choose the route that fits your ‘A’ talent and continue to build a better world. Try completing the following sentences.

My chosen mode for doing work that improves the world is:

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The specific things I can do to pursue this mode and do good work that improves the world are:

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