INNOVATE
WHY IT MATTERS
Innovation is looking past what is, to see what could be. It is change, in action. The world is seeing fast-paced transformation everywhere you look. With that transformation, it is the innovators who are modifying the rules for how to play the game and coming out on top. Leaders who excel at producing innovations create the products and services of tomorrow. They creatively lead their organizations through problems and difficulties that would stop others in their tracks. They know that organizations can only survive so long without altering what they do or how they do it. Leaders that fail to innovate will be overwhelmed by those who do, and see their organizations potentially relegated to no more than a footnote in history.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that innovate look towards tomorrow to find solutions for today. They want to be on the cusp of the new, the improved, and the breakthrough ways of doing work and meeting needs. They look at the world through the lens of what could be, not what can’t be. They are the doers that pave the way for the rest of the world to follow.
Leaders that innovate create a safe environment that appreciates, fosters, and rewards creative thinking and new ideas. They allow people the freedom to challenge assumptions, chase impressions, try new ideas, and test new waters. They make it known by their words and actions they want progressive thinking. They are willing to question how things have always been done.
Leaders that innovate always seek for better, faster, and cheaper ways of getting results. They investigate new processes, new procedures, and new tools to help drive how work is done. They cultivate within themselves a creative energy that moves others to analyze everything they do through the questions “how could we do this better?” and “what haven’t we thought of?”
Leaders that produce innovation invest in new thinking. They look for ideas where others don’t. They ask questions that others are afraid to ask. They don’t back down from ideas others deem impossible. They don’t shut down thoughts before giving them sincere consideration. They invest in ideas they think are worth pursuing.
Leaders that innovate invite the creativity of others, no matter their background or their place in the organization. They engage everyone in the creative process. They care more about finding a breakthrough than they care about where the breakthrough comes from. They invite innovation from others, build upon it, and grow it.
Leaders that innovate aren’t afraid to challenge accepted norms. They value the past, but they don’t overprotect it. They aren’t afraid to take on the status quo. People that are afraid of change don’t intimidate them. They question anything and everything in search of how to improve their work and results.
Leaders that innovate are experts at building consensus within the organization. They can take even the hardest ideas forward and get needed approvals. They know an idea can’t take root without people who believe in it. They rally the momentum necessary to turn good ideas into new realities.
BELIEFS
BEST PRACTICES
SELF-REFLECTION
Innovation is looking past what is, to see what could be. It is change, in action. The world is seeing fast-paced transformation everywhere you look. With that transformation, it is the innovators who are modifying the rules for how to play the game and coming out on top. Leaders who excel at producing innovations create the products and services of tomorrow. They creatively lead their organizations through problems and difficulties that would stop others in their tracks. They know that organizations can only survive so long without altering what they do or how they do it. Leaders that fail to innovate will be overwhelmed by those who do, and see their organizations potentially relegated to no more than a footnote in history.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that innovate look towards tomorrow to find solutions for today. They want to be on the cusp of the new, the improved, and the breakthrough ways of doing work and meeting needs. They look at the world through the lens of what could be, not what can’t be. They are the doers that pave the way for the rest of the world to follow.
Leaders that innovate create a safe environment that appreciates, fosters, and rewards creative thinking and new ideas. They allow people the freedom to challenge assumptions, chase impressions, try new ideas, and test new waters. They make it known by their words and actions they want progressive thinking. They are willing to question how things have always been done.
Leaders that innovate always seek for better, faster, and cheaper ways of getting results. They investigate new processes, new procedures, and new tools to help drive how work is done. They cultivate within themselves a creative energy that moves others to analyze everything they do through the questions “how could we do this better?” and “what haven’t we thought of?”
Leaders that produce innovation invest in new thinking. They look for ideas where others don’t. They ask questions that others are afraid to ask. They don’t back down from ideas others deem impossible. They don’t shut down thoughts before giving them sincere consideration. They invest in ideas they think are worth pursuing.
Leaders that innovate invite the creativity of others, no matter their background or their place in the organization. They engage everyone in the creative process. They care more about finding a breakthrough than they care about where the breakthrough comes from. They invite innovation from others, build upon it, and grow it.
Leaders that innovate aren’t afraid to challenge accepted norms. They value the past, but they don’t overprotect it. They aren’t afraid to take on the status quo. People that are afraid of change don’t intimidate them. They question anything and everything in search of how to improve their work and results.
Leaders that innovate are experts at building consensus within the organization. They can take even the hardest ideas forward and get needed approvals. They know an idea can’t take root without people who believe in it. They rally the momentum necessary to turn good ideas into new realities.
BELIEFS
- If you get stuck in the present you will quickly find yourself left and forgotten in the past.
- Change doesn’t wait for people to try and catch up. You are either in front of change or behind it, there is no middle ground.
- You can’t progress to the future without looking to the future, so take occasion to call a timeout and imagine what could be.
- You need to preach, teach, invite, and reward innovation if you hope to find it.
- Some innovations are often answers to simple problems that are right in front of you, almost too close to see.
- Innovation means change, and change is hard. Innovation only comes to those who don’t fear it.
- There is no such thing as running out of better ways to do something, just running out of motivation to try.
- Innovation doesn’t need to come from the experts. Sometimes it will come from where you least expect it.
BEST PRACTICES
- Think creatively about solutions to problems.
- Be willing to take risks if the need arises.
- Find better, faster, or cheaper solutions.
- Don’t be afraid of new ideas and thinking.
- Try to see things differently.
- Do not stop after a good solution is identified.
- Do not discourage the ideas of others.
- Reinvent processes and procedures.
- Initiate new ways of approaching old things.
- Challenge the accepted norms.
- Get out of your comfort zone.
- Create an environment that values creativity.
- See the consequences of new ideas and concepts.
- Prove which ideas will have real value.
- Know when creativity has gone too far.
- Line up alternative solutions to issues.
- Identify where change needs to happen.
- Don’t be satisfied with old ways of doing things.
- Identify new markets, customers, and partners.
- Come up with new ways of doing the same thing.
- Implement ideas with caution good judgment.
- Reward innovation in the organization.
SELF-REFLECTION
- Do I always try to find new and better ways of doing things, or do I get comfortable with how things currently are?
- Do I see the world around me for what it could be, or do I look at the world through the lens of what it can’t be?
- Do I involve other people in the innovation process, or do I think all the innovative ideas need to come from me?
- Do other people know how much I want new and innovative ideas, or do they think I want to maintain the status quo?
- Do I create a culture that rewards innovation, or do I create a culture that fears change and innovation?
- Do I stop and ask the question “how could we do this better,” or do I just accept things as they presently are?
- Do I challenge how things have always been done, or do I let history and tradition keep me from progress?
- Do I embrace the change that accompanies innovation, or do I like it when things stay the same and predictable?
- Don’t jump from one thing to the next, and adopt new things so quickly, that nothing has time to take root.
- Don’t be so attached to your new ideas that you are unable to listen to other people’s new ideas.
- Don’t be so optimistic about the possibilities of on idea that you ignore the warning signs that say it won’t work.
- I’m always looking for ways to do things better.
- Even if something works now, it could always be improved.
- Sharing ideas with others is energizing.
- I like to think about the future.
- Taking a risk is better than not trying.
- A successful business must always be evolving.