Leading innovation: Bold Ambition (week 2)
Challenge your team to think about what the organization could be doing to tackle a problem that has never been solved.
Traditional leadership:
The conventional view has been that, as a leader, you place the focus on what you think your organization should be doing.
A fresh approach:
Our research shows new-era leaders of innovation should focus not only on what the organization should be doing but also on what the organization could be doing. To innovate, challenge your team to look at problems that have never been solved.
Bring it to life:
- Communicate aspirations for your organization that exceed current capabilities
- Show your unyielding faith in others to achieve these aggressive goals and ideas
- Ask employees to consider where they want the organization to be 5, 10, 20 years in the future, and what they need to do now to achieve that vision
- Connect your organization’s business and mission to large-scale problems in need of solutions
- Encourage employees to tackle problems that industry competitors can’t or won’t
- Set goals and benchmarks that are tied to your organization’s purpose, as well as performance
- Seek to generate excitement and commitment around tackling big problems
Next week: Collaboration.
Focus on the team, not star performers.
Innovation solutions from Paradox Strategies
Our Collective Genius simulation and learning journey is designed to help leaders inspire action, nourish creativity, and build a culture of innovation. We also offer keynotes and our proprietary innovation diagnostic assessments re:Mind™ and re:Route™ as first steps in developing the mindset, culture, and capabilities of innovative organizations. Contact us via the form below if you would like to know how to bring these great tools to your organization.
