Innovation requires a great leadership culture and structured processes to support ideas to bloom

Speaking with my clients we have been discussing innovation. Innovation for growth, innovation of new product development ideas, innovation of new services or modes of delivery to better meet our client needs, and innovation to simply allow ideas flourish.

Reflecting on this, innovation cannot exist without the right leadership culture, with this in place structured process can support an idea to come to fruition and 'bloom'. The following are critical aspects to supporting innovation.

The opportunity to dissent, psychological safety and no bulldozers

Effective leaders allow their people to share their ideas, they create a 'safe' environment for open two way dialogue and are accepting of objections (1). I have witnessed too many occasions when a challenging question is asked or an alternative view presented, followed by a senior person shutting it down, resulting in the group going quiet. Sadly that brilliant 'bud' of an idea is lost forever. An autocratic, bulldozing style (2), will simply block the earliest ideas even seeing the light of day.

A culture where it is okay to make mistakes, try, try again, try again and keep on trying ....

People need to know and visibly see that it is okay to mistakes. A learning culture where people are always growing and trying to better themselves is imperative. This is exemplified in the SpaceX rocket design. SpaceX set out with the hopes of revolutionising the aerospace industry and making affordable spaceflight a reality (3). The short version of the story is SpaceX used iterative processes to continually design, develop, launch reusable rockets at a significantly cheaper price than NASA. NASA costs roughly $1.6 billion per flight, whereas spaceX roughly $67m, that's a huge difference (4). The are many videos showing rockets disintegrating in what Elon Musk calls a 'successful failure' and then SpaceX finally achieving a successful landing. They kept nurturing their bud and finally got a flower!

Recognising that multiple ideas may be required to get one great innovative idea

The most innovative companies will release more minimum viable products, than laggards, with the notion that only some of these ideas will make it through. This requires structured processes within your organisation that support the exploration of early stage ideas, release of funding and committed resources. Not all buds bloom, but eventually some will.

Understanding the market and exploring the feasibility of ideas

This one is a little chicken or egg. You may have the bud of 'idea', or you may want to explore your market to understand where those ideas may be waiting dormant.

Regardless organisations should research their market understand what their competitors are doing, where gaps exist and how to position their idea 'buds'.

Board's are responsible for driving strategic growth ideas

At your next Board offsite, you should be considering how and where you will grow. 'Sow the soil'. Innovation starts from the top. Their are structured processes a Board can undertake to look at where you currently play and how you might grow. The Board is responsible for strategy and taking calculated risks.

At Strategy Coach we help leaders by advising them on their strategy and critiquing the organisations ability to realise it. We can support through strategic advisory coaching for your leaders, facilitating your next Board or leadership offsite, guiding you through a market analysis or helping you discover the complex elements you need in place to realise your strategy.

References

1. B. Taylor, 2017, True Leaders Believe Dissent Is an Obligation, Jan 2017, Harvard Business Review. https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/why-bulldozers-are-the-last-to-listen-20220601-p5aq88

2. K. Ferguson, 2022, Why bulldozers are the last to listen, Australian Financial Review. https://www.afr.com/work-and-careers/leaders/why-bulldozers-are-the-last-to-listen-20220601-p5aq88

3. E. Gregersen, SpaceX, Britannica.com. https://www.britannica.com/topic/SpaceX

4. D.Chow, To cheaply go: How falling launch costs fueled a thriving economy in orbit, nbc.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/space-launch-costs-growing-business-industry-rcna23488