3 Innovation Keys - Do Your Innovative Efforts Need More Power?
Recently, I attended a webinar with nearly 400 other Chief
Learning Officers - during one polling period, we were
asked what primary driving force pushes organization-wide
or individual innovation - the majority agreed that
leadership is that force. Indeed, those CLOs agreed innovation was the most important
quality their organizations desire in teams, individuals
and leaders. In today's fast-paced society, where images, ideas and
ideals fly past through our minds at warp-speed, the only
way to survive and succeed is to innovate as much and as
often as possible. I don't mean that you innovate for innovation's sake,
rather you must add value, improve quality and enhance
competence in every one of your tasks, products and
services and that work must be done in an highly innovative
fashion. What strategies can leaders use to empower, propel and
energize our innovative efforts? Strategy-1 - Empower the Quest! When we encounter inconsistencies, problems, difficulties,
incongruities, dysfunction, mysteries or challenges, aren't
those the times we notice that there are "gaps in our
knowledge"? When gaps are found we naturally want to search for
solutions, or ways to bridge or augment our knowledge. Leaders who aspire to leading others in authentic,
committed, honorable ways strive to channel the power of
open and forthright discussion and inquiry. In a word,
leaders with integrity are not afraid to seek out and face
the truth. Wise leaders realize that the truth contains its own energy
supply - through the pursuit of truth, our perceptions take
on keener insights, we see our situations from afar and we
can see them more clearly. What is truth? We need to understand that our knowledge is
insufficient [I like to call it, our "knowledge deficit"],
and after acknowledging that, we must hunt for facts, ideas
or theories to help us erase our knowledge-deficit. Strategy-2 - Propel the Momentum! When you begin the search for those 'deficit-filling' facts, ideas and theories, you will see, discover or uncover at
least one or more of these patterns and phenomena: => the unexpected - are the results you got the results you
expected? => the break in logic, assumption or rhythm - does there
seem to be something that is illogical or that doesn't make
sense under the circumstances? => the change in structure or paradigm behind the "problem"
- is it possible that our industry, profession or
technology has changed or has those things experienced a
change in the way they are structured? Effective leaders "propel the momentum" of innovation by
challenging assumptions, traditions and comfort levels. By aggressively testing the results of every activity for
its contributions to productivity, resourcefulness and
growth, leaders can keep the "ball" of innovative momentum
rolling. Strategy-3 - Energize the Process! Asking the right questions guides leaders towards truth -
honestly searching for and fearlessly facing truthful
answers will lead you to successful ventures. Leaders can maximize their innovative opportunities by
adding energy to their everyday work processes. You can
build innovation into your tasks, relations and assessments
by keeping your objectives clearly in mind. "Inspect what you expect" are great words to lead and
manage by. Keep your goals, objectives, targets, milestones
and expectations in front of the group all the time. By checking what you budgeted, planned and organized for
against your actual outcomes, outputs and outpourings, you
will identify problems and be better able to adjust or
adapt your efforts before those challenges overwhelm your
progress. By unveiling the truth of your objectives and hopes, you
are walking on the path towards innovation - you will be '
on-the-right-track' to that place where you will: => Do your work with or on things in different ways, => Take more effective actions on the things that you work
with or on, => Work with or on things with greater levels of efficiency. ----------------------------------------------------------- "You cannot solve a problem until you acknowledge that you
have one and accept responsibility for solving it" - Zig
Ziglar Leading others to think, work and contribute more
innovatively means being skilled, trained and developed to
exploit your energy sources, along with the practices and
disciplines of innovation. It is possible to be taught the principles and concepts of
innovation. Leading a creative, evolutionary, innovative
organization is our highest priority for enjoying a healthy
and vibrant economy. "It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what
is essential is invisible to the eye." - Antoine de Saint Use your commitment to push our boundaries, your courage to
risk a different way, and your hope to discover a better
tomorrow as your guide - then lead us into that promised
land. Copyright © 2005, Mustard Seed Investments Inc.,
All rights reserved. ------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bill Thomas is author of "Leading A Creative, Evolutionary,
Innovative Organization!" - an idea-packed, 2-Volume set of
manuals to help you electrify, empower and infuse your
leadership with scientifically-proven, evolutionary,
results-producing strategies. Energize your innovation! http://www.leadership-toolkit.com/innovation.html ------------------------------------------------------------
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