Welcome to the Radical Now. It’s a holy s@#t  moment of disruption that won’t be going away anytime soon. It’s blowing up societal paradigms, chewing up long-established systems, sowing death and destruction, disproportionately and unfairly impacting groups and populations among us, and causing many to grieve a life that used to be, while we grapple with the fact that “normal” worked for only some. But at the same time, all this disruption is creating glimmers of hope—activating people in new ways, opening up new opportunities, and pointing to different, better paths forward in terms of how and who we value, and how inequities are confronted and addressed. One thing is certain: These are complex times that are testing our values and beliefs, and demanding immediate, existential action by individuals, communities, and organizations.

So, what can organizations do to navigate the mind-numbing, ground-shifting change of the Radical Now? Hint: Hunkering down and waiting for this all to blow over is not an option. Neither is treating it like a crisis to be managed with a predictable beginning, middle, and end; that playbook just won’t work anymore. Time to embrace your Radical Why, What, and How!

Visit designfordisruption.com for more information or reach out to us at hello@hairpin.org.