The planning profession is often fueled by a desire to improve communities, striving for livability, sustainability, and social justice. This vision demands a strong sense of idealism. However, to truly succeed, young planners must also embrace realism, preparing themselves for the inevitable challenges of long project timelines, ethical dilemmas, conflicting stakeholder interests, and bureaucratic hurdles. For the aspiring planner, this is A Guide For The Idealist in navigating this complex landscape.
Encountering these obstacles without proper preparation can be discouraging or even disillusioning for young professionals. This guide offers insights and strategies to help idealists thrive in the planning field.
Richard Willson, FAICP, headshot, smiling gently and wearing a blue shirt and patterned tie.
The Idealist’s Toolkit: Essential Skills and Strategies
Richard Willson, FAICP, a seasoned academic, researcher, and mentor, recognized the need for practical guidance. Drawing on his extensive experience, he developed a framework to aid young planners in making informed decisions during the crucial early stages of their careers. His work addresses key aspects such as decision-making processes, managing self-doubt, exploring different types of planning work, and understanding various work environments. He provides a guide for the idealist by merging academic theory with tangible experience.
Learning from the Expert: Richard Willson’s “A Guide for the Idealist”
Willson’s insights are further elaborated in his books, A Guide for the Idealist: How to Launch and Navigate Your Planning Career and Reflective Planning Practice: Theory, Cases and Methods. These resources provide comprehensive frameworks, real-world case studies, reflective exercises, practical advice, and personal anecdotes. They are valuable tools for aspiring and practicing planners alike, available at Routledge, Amazon, and most major book retailers. They offer the reader a guide for the idealist looking to make a difference.
Exploring Key Themes: A Series of Insights for the Aspiring Planner
Richard Willson’s blog series offers a wide range of topics to support the journey of the idealist planner. Here’s a selection of blog posts which can act as a quick guide for the idealist:
- Making Strategic and Ethical Practice Choices: Navigating the complexities of decision-making in planning.
- Reflect | Act | Release: A framework for continuous improvement and personal growth.
- Reflection Reset: Pathways to Effective Practice: Re-evaluating approaches to enhance effectiveness.
- Reflection for Radical Planners: Applying reflective practices to drive impactful change.
- Reflective Planning: Navigating Idealism and Realism: Balancing aspirations with practical considerations.
- Being an Idealist in Difficult Times: Maintaining passion and purpose amidst challenges.
- Changing Planning Practices to Honor George Floyd: Promoting social justice through planning initiatives.
- Cultivating Planning Career Resilience: Developing the ability to bounce back from setbacks.
- Reflex or Reflexivity: Which One Is Good for Planners?: Understanding the importance of thoughtful action.
- Spinning Planning Experience into Practical Wisdom: Transforming experiences into valuable knowledge.
- Time Triage for Planning Managers: Prioritizing tasks effectively to maximize impact.
- Negotiation Skills Are a Must for Planning Managers: Mastering the art of negotiation for successful outcomes.
- First-Time Planning Manager? Let Go, Step Up: Embracing leadership roles with confidence.
- Career Ordeals Await — You Can Build Resilience: Preparing for and overcoming career challenges.
- Do You Plan With Caution or Courage — or Both?: Finding the right balance in your planning approach.
- Did I Take the Wrong Job?: Evaluating career choices and making adjustments as needed.
- I’m an Underworked Planner and I’m Losing Heart: Addressing feelings of underutilization and finding renewed purpose.
- Tips for the Overworked Planner: Strategies for managing workload and preventing burnout.
- The Workplace Conspiracy Against Change: Overcoming resistance to innovation and progress.
- Reframing Anxiety: Managing anxiety and promoting mental well-being.
- Moving Into Planning Management: Preparing for and succeeding in management roles.
- 7 Answers to Questions About Mentoring: Understanding the benefits of mentoring and how to get involved.
- 5 Scenarios for “Reading” Your Supervisor: Improving communication and understanding with supervisors.
- Finding Your Way to the Best Planning Job: Identifying and pursuing fulfilling career opportunities.
- Trust: A Must-Have for Credibility, Influence, and Power: Building trust to enhance influence and effectiveness.
- Credibility, Influence, and Power: How to Get It, How to Use It: Developing and utilizing these essential qualities.
- Theories of Change and Your Planning Career: Applying change theories to achieve desired outcomes.
- Planning Theory: What Is It Good For?: Understanding the relevance of planning theory in practice.
- Mentoring and the Planning Fountain of Youth: The benefits of mentoring at any stage of career.
- So … No Planning Degree?: Paths into the planning profession without a formal degree.
Each post serves as a valuable lesson within the overall guide for the idealist.
Richard Willson: A Legacy of Mentorship and Guidance
Richard Willson’s unexpected passing on December 6, 2022, at the age of 66, was a significant loss to the planning community. He was a dedicated professor at Cal Poly Pomona’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning, where he served in various leadership roles. His research focused on crucial areas such as planning theory, parking policy, and climate change planning. He was a life long guide for the idealist.
Richard Willson’s contributions extended far beyond academia. He was a consultant, author, artist, and, most importantly, a mentor to countless individuals in the planning field. His work continues to inspire and guide aspiring planners around the world. His impact solidifies his title as the quintessential guide for the idealist.
