For those who have yet to become familiar with using creativity and innovation for greater business success, here are some things worth thinking about. For those of you who have, then you should look at these problems and feel proud that you have overcome them!
“Few great men would have outgrown the personal.” Paul Goodman
How true! Whether you’re thinking of one-offs like Richard Branson and James Dyson or gangs of people who work for Google or Apple, it’s highly unlikely that your recruiting procedures will lead you to recruit these people. Human resources departments can become so obsessed with employment law that they don’t take steps to hire and retain the best people for their company.
“Since we live in the age of innovation, a practical education should prepare a man for a job that does not yet exist and cannot yet be clearly defined.” Peter Drucker
Yet another problem to deal with. We may have an idea of what the future holds (futures is a brilliant use for alternative thinking), but even without this, we know the kinds of skills our workers need to have and the kinds of behaviors they need to exhibit. Our workforce must match these criteria and be able to learn easily and tolerate a degree of ambiguity. But if things can’t be set in stone, where does that leave unions and other representative bodies that might resist change?
“Leaders say, ‘Let’s be more innovative.’ Staff say, ‘Bravo. When do we start?’ Middle managers say, “Wait, let’s think about that. What about… and…? Have you REALLY thought it through? Does this mean I have to change?” claude legrand
This is where you will find the most resistance or the most help. Sometimes layers of middle management are inserted for no good reason. They are dead wood and must be removed, but they can occupy a very important position. Whether your information tends to flow bottom-up, top-down, or side-to-side, this is where data, information, and knowledge collide and connections are made.
“People buy more books/diets (tools) to lose weight than all other books, but people are fatter than ever. Why? Most diets don’t address the psychological (mindset) reasons for eating. What The same applies to innovation. Stephen Shapiro
True again. Why do you or your company really want to innovate? Is it because it’s all the rage in the Chamber of Commerce or are there good reasons for it, such as flexibility, sustainability, improved motivation, etc.? Are your aspirations as a management team aligned with those of your employees (and perhaps middle managers)?
