We originally created the Framework—complemented by a series of Stories of Action that highlight fearless, real world organizations—as a tool to help changemakers at foundations, nonprofits and other social sector groups understand what actions they can take to implement a fearless approach. In 2015, we updated our Be Fearless Framework Action to reflect feedback from social sector practitioners in the field who shared with us what they needed to create transformative change from within their organizations.
This new Be Fearless Framework for Action is designed to provide social sector leaders, practitioners and others with tangible and tactical steps on their journey to take risks, be bold and fail forward. We hope it empowers change agents within organizations to better understand the extent to which their organizations’ actions and behaviors reflect one or more of the Be Fearless principles. This Framework offers a range of ideas about how an organization’s actions may change over time as it becomes more fearless. While exploring these recommendations, you may discover even more ideas for how your organization specifically may embrace the Be Fearless principles.
Why Be Fearless?
It’s time to ignite a more fearless approach to changemaking—one that requires taking risks, being bold and failing forward… and it starts with YOU. Here you will find tools designed to help you and your organization create more meaningful social change.
Here’s a quick look at the five values we found to be at the heart of some of the most successful fearless change efforts of our time.
1) Make Big Bets and Make History. Set audacious, not incremental, goals.
2) Experiment Early and Often. Don’t be afraid to go first.
3) Make Failure Matter. Failure teaches. Learn from it.
4) Reach Beyond Your Bubble. It’s comfortable to go it alone. But innovation happens at intersections.
5) Let Urgency Conquer Fear. Don’t overthink and overanalyze. Do.