Stop doing this after a crisis.
Written by Katie Test Davis
"Something must change.” “We need to do something.” “Someone should do something.”
I’ve scrolled past endless LinkedIn posts, tweets and Facebook comments these past few weeks — all with the same sentiment. What we’re living through now isn’t acceptable, and we want it to be different.
Here’s the communication problem with the “something must change” posts: they unintentionally perpetuate the idea that the problems we face are too big.
When something is too big for us, we shut down. Of our “flight, fight or freeze” instincts, freeze immediately takes over. The problem looms too large for us. The solution, whatever it is, is too big and unknowable. We are so small.
Get back in your place, the problem tells us. Who are you to challenge me, the problem tells us. You can’t do anything, the problem tells us.
Well, frankly, I refuse to accept that. That is what they want you to think.
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The antidote to the shapeless blob that is “something” is specificity. As we’ve shared before, in tough times, specificity saves the day.
Naming a specific solution — one that is actionable and imaginable — starts chipping away at the bigness of the problem.
Eliminating school shootings? Start with identifying a single specific action that you want to see policymakers take, such as supporting extreme risk laws, also known as red flag laws. Then, as Everytown does, name why: “Extreme Risk laws can de-escalate emergency situations.”
Will red flag laws alone prevent every school shooting? No, of course not. But does it give legislators an action item? Absolutely. Does it give supporters something to latch on to? Yup. Does it make the problem seem smaller, and like there’s a pathway to change our reality? Sure does.
The amorphous “something” will keep us at the status quo, and perpetuate the myth that we can’t create change for our children and families. We are better than that.
Don’t let the bigness of the problem keep you down.
Be specific. Name the action.
