Innovation has never been so important like recently. Today we live in an era of such rapid change that we all look for ways of working that develop the capacity for continuous change and frequent adaptation, while ensuring that identity and values remain constant. To me innovation is not something we do rather something we are. The question is how do we evoke the innate innovative human potential in everyone? We have forgotten how creative we can be and relegated this capacity only to the artists. We got into this state partly because, for too long, we've been operating a business model based on the principles of an assembly line. This model traps people into the tiny boxes of roles and job descriptions. We've told people what to do and how they should work, behave, feel. Those boxes made people think they aren't creative, or that there is no space into business for their creativity and imagination; blocking the road to innovation. When we apply mechanistic images to humans, we become, like the assembly line, passive, unemotional and fragmented; because of discounting and denying our best human capacities. If we move instead into the paradigm of living systems a new view opens up. In this new view it is possible to work with the innovative potential that exists in all of us. The complexity of modern systems cannot be understood by our old ways of separating, rearranging, doing. In a complex system, highly inter and intra connected we need instead new ways of being. In the previous two blogs, on the three pillars for renewing business, we explored what these new ways of being: Integrated and Inclusive.
We spend so much efforts and struggle for more creativity and innovation and do not realise that the real challenge is actually removing the blocks to creativity an innovation. No two people see the world exactly the same, this is the basic source of innovation. Rather than being upset or frustrated by it how can we use it to build environments and behaviours that foster it? Simple, we can ask people for their unique perspective. We can invite them in to share the world as they see it. We can listen for the differences. And we can trust that together we can create a rich mosaic from all our unique perspectives. We can't be outside the process, observing behaviours or collecting data in traditional ways hoping to find an innovative solution. We learn more when we are curious rather than certain! The difference is in putting ideas, proposals, and issues on the table as experiments rather than as recommendations for what should be done and how. Simon Sinek summarises it “ Be the last to speak”. Stay open to the different perspectives, understand that it requires to let go of assumptions and stereotypes constantly. If we listen for diversity rather than agreement, and practice inclusion it's fascinating how many interpretations, solutions and nuances people can give to the same situation, challenge or need. Innovation is not a product, it is the result of how diverse, whole and inclusive we are. We have no choice, in this complex world, but to figure out how to invite in everybody so we can be truly innovative. Those that we fail to invite into the creation process will show up as resistors and saboteurs. There is no other option than genuinely engage people in the change process from the beginning and see what's possible. People only support what they create. We just need to invite them. Bring people together to talk to one another, listen to one another, reflect on the learnings. No one person has the answer, we need everybody's creativity to find our way through and innovate business. We are our only hope for creating a future worth working for. We can't create it without relying anew on our integrated, inclusive and precious creative humanity. Now imagine you are the CEO of your organization…If the C of CEO would stand for “creative” what would you create?
This is the third and last blog post of a series in which I explained the three pillars of ReNEWBusiness: Integrity, Inclusion and Innovation. You can read my post on how they are “my” recipe to renew business on the HuffPost.
The 3 I program developed on these 3 values is for those leaders who want to inspire transformation and build teams/organisations everyone wants to work for.
What is the 3 I program? It is a step-by-step approach for:
• knowing, expressing and integrating who you truly are in everything you do,
• creating inspiring, purpose-driven business cultures,
• improving overall energy and well-being.
It is based on the RNEWB Integral Leadership Framework, which guides participants through a structured approach. Get in contact with me to learn how to bring this approach to you and your organisation if you wan to:
1 Strengthen authentic personality, purpose & emotional intelligence
2 Develop leadership abilities for creating human-centered inspiring organisations
3 Learn how to re-new your organisation for higher accountability, responsibility, collaboration & engagement.
ReNEWBusiness’ mission is making business a human experience. It is about time we choose what experience we want to have and create through our businesses.