Innovation doesn’t just come from having creative people around. Like any ingrained organization trait, innovation is driven by culture. Culture is driven by leaders.
In most organizations, the deck is stacked against innovation. You can’t just want it. Your job is to make it happen. Here are five tips for leading an innovative organization:
Focus on outcomes – Nothing kills innovation faster than a detailed set of marching orders. Outcomes open up possibilities. If I ask you teach me to speak Spanish, your options are very limited. If I ask you to help me communicate with Spanish speaking people, the options are endless. Don’t tell people to build you a rocket, tell them that you want to get to the moon by the end of the decade. Innovation needs space.
Demand dissention – An interesting similarity in Jewish and U.S. law is that both record dissenting opinions as well as prevailing ones. I believe this is what has enabled both to remain relevant in ever changing times. This is a great form of organizational learning. When things change, you may already have a solution (or at least a starting point)“on the books”. Too many organizations and leadership teams squelch dissension in order to provide a “unified” front. I once read of a CEO who appointed one person to be a contrarian in every meeting. The assessment of that person’s performance for the meeting was based solely on how well he or she posed a completely opposite view from the group.
Require alternatives – Due to time and cost pressures, we often settle for the first answer that seems reasonable. Satisficing is the enemy of innovation. Don’t even entertain a recommendation unless the team has shown you at least two other, radically different, alternatives. It doesn’t take that much more time to think through a few more options.
Place large numbers of small bets – One of my favorite innovation gurus, Steve Shapiro makes the point that the more you have invested in a single solution, the less likely you are to change it, abandon it, or start something new. Make small investments in a lot of things and see which ones stick (see Steve’s full blog entry: What Innovators Can Learn From Vegas Card Counters
Stop reading your own press – It’s fine for others to think you are innovative. Once you start believing it yourself, you will quickly succumb to the status quo.
Chief: Great post! These shorter entries are extremely effective–perhaps you have found your metier. Have you been circulating your writing in highly visible places??? I love the recent post on your other blog, too, but can’t comment.
Thanks!!! I’ve gotten feedback that I try to explain too much! So, I’m trying to adjust. We’ll see how it goes. Even this response is probbly too long! Old habits die hard.
All teachers have to figure out how best to manage knowledge production and exchange, huh? I struggle with that all the time, more so in the classroom than in formal writing, so I guess context is key. In general, isn’t it in your best interest to hold back a bit so your peeps will want more of your wisdom/package?
I fixed the other blog…anyone can leave comments now. Thanks for letting me know about that.