Coming into the Karel Fellowship this summer, I was very excited but also curious about the skills I would learn. After all, communications is my major and I had been taught the world of strategic communications by a pioneer in the field. I thought to myself, “What could this fellowship teach me that I have not already learned?” Before that thought could hold space in my mind, I learned an important lesson – if not THE MOST important lesson in this field– that good ideas contribute to change.
Before joining the communications team at the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program, they had developed a newsletter that featured a statement focused on an area of student success, followed by key information about the program. The statement held immense value to the work of the program but could be seen as “too dense” for a newsletter. This was a sentiment that was expressed by an individual on the communications team at my first check-in meeting.
They suggested that instead, the statement should be shortened for the newsletter and the full statement should be transformed into a blog post on the organization’s website.
I thought that was a bold suggestion, especially because the statement was written by the director of the program, but a darn good one. The idea was a slam dunk in the meeting– one by one, others in the meeting began to express their opinions on this idea, some positive, others not so positive. Some stated that it would make the newsletter more digestible and increase engagement on the website; others said it would dilute the focus of the newsletter.
However, the most valuable piece of this conversation was the intensity and eagerness that was shared; the willingness of the team to rally around one good idea. It was then that I realized that the excitement behind a “good idea” could create enthusiasm in people to WANT to make a difference– not because this is their job, but because they felt a connection to the work. This conversation showed that when you are surrounded by like-minded people, the concept of a “good idea” can become a powerful catalyst for progress.
I also realized that the value of a good idea expands far beyond the confines of small projects at the nonprofit I worked at. When people come together to produce good ideas, they create a space for social change. In any setting, whether it’s a nonprofit organization, a corporation, or an NGO, the ability to generate innovative ideas can lead to significant societal impacts. Good ideas spark conversations, challenge norms, and inspire action. They can transform communities, influence policies, and drive progress on a larger scale. But truly, the power of a good idea lies in its potential to unite people with a shared vision that can ultimately create a better future for all.