Just a Thought...

“It amuses me when organisations brainstorm – with the same people, around the topics, in the same environment, with the same tools – and expect different results!”
– Bettina von Stamm
Innovation Leadership Forum

Innovation is on my mind! As I ponder and learn about innovation, I will, on occasion, share my thoughts in this section.
Smiles,

Bettina

Innovating with sufficiency in mind?
A word attributed by a colleague to the wonderful, outspoken and provocative lady Josephine Green of Philips Design has lodged itself into the centre of my consciousness: sufficiency. Ever since I first heard the word being mentioned in the context of a conversation around sustainability and innovation it has stayed with me, popping up

Changing Behaviors
Ever made new year's resolutions? Then you know how hard it is to change behaviours - even if you want to. Creating an innovative organisation is about changing behaviours - not only your own but also that of other people, even though they might not really feel the necessity. So... if you want people to change, to become more innovative, you have to give them a good reason!

The Importance of Passionate Leadership
Just the other day I have been listening to a concert without a conductor. The performance was nice - but lacking passion and the extra sparkle that differentiates an average from an outstanding performance. It is the conductor who awakens and amplifies the passion of the orchestra, who brings those along that might be flagging, who quiets those that might be too loud, who knows whom to put into the limelight, and he creates the vision and direction for the team. Innovation teams are a bit like an orchestra: they can and will perform without a passionate leader, because they are professionals and take pride in a good job, but a passionate leader can elevate them to the extraordinary. Do you choose innovation leaders based on availability or passion?

The Glorious Mess of Innovation
Innovation is on the agenda. Money is put behind it – and yet, dissatisfaction with results seems to remain. I believe this is due to the fact that leaders of organisations have understood the necessity of innovation with their heads, but fail to understand and embrace it - with all its messiness and risk - in their hearts. So if someone pushes the real changes that are required to drive innovation they resist. Unless that changes, innovative organisations will remain an aspiration.

Patient Tending of New Ideas
Ideas are delicate plants that need careful nurturing if they are to grow into fully-fletched innovation. They might struggle a bit initially and you may have to re-pot then a few times before they show their potential. How many chances does your organisation give an idea? Present it once and then it is ‘go’ or ‘no go’? Can you still remember fairy tales? Have you noticed that the first attempt almost always fails? It tends to be the magical third time that things work out. Perhaps when deciding upon ideas it is not a bad idea to follow the wisdom of fairy tales…