How Utopian Thinking Can Inspire Business Leaders

The distance between reality and our dreams is a space for creative solutions.

Business leaders aren’t blind to the environmental scars etched by their industries, nor to the communities left behind in the pursuit of profit. They feel the unease, the gnawing guilt, but the harsh reality often seems easier to ignore. Executives are trapped in a cycle of reaction, their minds clouded by denial, rationalisation and a sense of powerlessness. They build walls against discomfort, isolating themselves from impending problems. But what if this protective ignorance is the true nightmare? What if it breeds a future even worse than the one we anticipate?

This is where we need utopian thinking. Envisioning an ideal world reveals a much more inspirational picture. It allows us to view the gap between reality and our dreams as an opportunity, not an obstacle. It is empowering.

Source: How Utopian Thinking Can Inspire Business Leaders | INSEAD Knowledge