Innovationalist

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Every organization needs an innovationalist

What is long overdue is a specialist that takes the key concepts of innovation and makes them meaningful to people.

I once watched David Suzuki, the scientist and environmentalist talk about the challenges facing our society. He said what had to be said: our current way of living is not sustainable. He said this knowing he may be criticized by those who have a vested interest in the status quo.

It occurred to me that the world of ideas needs people to do the same. We need people to become innovationalists. We need people to have the conviction and courage to say what needs to be said knowing they may be criticized. What is long overdue is a specialist that takes the key concepts of innovation and makes them meaningful to people. The innovationalist can learn a great deal from an environmentalist:

Communication is crucial: attempts to innovate often fail due to a limited understanding of what it means at a personal level. I recently interviewed a woman at a company whose lobby is filled with signs stating, "Innovation is our future." I ask, "What does this mean to you in your job?" She had no idea.

Be a role model: people learn by watching others in action. I worked for a law firm in which senior partners mentor new staff by having them sit in their offices to watch and listen. The same could apply to the pursuit of innovative future leaders.

Everyone is part of the solution: Every organization has two functions to create a profitability business. Both need to be innovative:

The business of the business: innovative solutions are needed for designing services or products that customers will want to buy at price that allows a profitable future.
The business of managing people to effectively deliver services and products: other people provide the support and infrastructure necessary for success.

What needs to be said in your organization?

While the role of an innovationalist is not new, it is rare. A job description would include leading problem solving sessions, coaching people to help generate more effective solutions, providing strategies to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the business, and saying what needs to be said. Here are some ideas that an innovationalist may adopt to decide what needs to be said in an organization.

Question everything to explore ideas: Some people will judge you negatively for questioning everything. Some people will see little need to change.
Notice mediocrity: Be resistant to indifference, status quo and apathy.
Encourage courageousness: it takes courage to solve problems in new ways. Encourage staff at all levels to focus on both the alarm bells of problems and new initiatives to make systems, processes and services more effective.
Highlight myths: do not accept excuses for the status quo. Managing to maintain the status quo fails to fulfil the potential of people and the resources of an organisation.
Focus on ideas, not stereotypes: no sector, organisation or job has a monopoly on creativity. Any thought that a traditional job like accounting cannot be creative is wrong. Accountants do not need to be artists but they do need to solve problems effectively and make good decisions. This is idea creativity. The same applies to executives and the mailroom staff.

Order your Idea Factory books now to become an innovationalist!