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Leadership Tip of the Month

December 2002

Copyright 2002 ã weLEAD, Inc.

Encourage Flexibility and Innovation

In our fast paced world, change is increasing at an ever alarming rate. Within the business world the ability to be flexible to changing conditions and innovation is a matter of survival! Competition is more intense, products become obsolete sooner, customers demand greater levels of service, and there is less time to develop new products. Organizations determined to survive must be committed to acquiring newer levels of knowledge either by imitating the best practices of others or self-discovery. Organizations that learn rapidly and use newly gained knowledge to become more effective are called learning organizations. These firms dedicate resources to promote learning at all levels. What are some of the ways an organization’s culture can be changed to promote learning? A major emphasis should be placed on encouraging flexibility and innovation. Here are some ways to encourage these two valuable qualities…

Show an appreciation for flexibility and innovation. People who have confidence and pride in their ability to adapt and learn will be more open to change. Confident workers view change not as a burden but as an exciting new challenge. Encourage an environment where everyone views existing methods and practices as temporary…open to improvement and growth. Applaud those who examine each activity to determine if it is still needed or how it can be improved.

Promote a “systems thinking” approach. We all tend to use simplistic mental models to approach problems or opportunities. This narrow approach often leads to more problems and a limited understanding of real events. Systems thinking acknowledges complex inter-relationships and cycles. By using systems thinking, it is realized that problems have multiple causes. Actions are recognized to have multiple outcomes and perhaps some unintended side effects. Some decisions that appear to offer quick results may actually be harmful in the long run. Systems thinking accepts that a change in one part of the organization or department often elicits a response from other parts that will seek to maintain equilibrium or the status quo. The reaction from one part or department can actually dampen the effects of the initial change! Promoting a systems thinking approach results in a more effective and realistic analysis of the true cause of problems and possible solutions.

Endorse learning from surprises and failures. It is remarkable to consider that surprises and failures can often provide greater opportunity for learning than expected outcomes and events. Expected outcomes simply confirm existing assumptions and therefore provide no new insights or fresh perspectives. Most people ignore new information or knowledge that doesn’t fit into their assumptions of how things work. Point out that some of the greatest human discoveries are the results of anomalies or accidents! Demonstrate to others that surprises and failures can provide new perceptions and a chance for greater self-discovery and analysis.

Gain knowledge from outsiders. Leaders are humble enough to accept they don’t know everything and can learn much from others. Some organizations and people have an ignorant and arrogant attitude toward ideas that were “not invented here”. A wise leader counteracts this attitude by identifying the best practices of other organizations. But don’t simply stop by benchmarking the achievements of others! First, evaluate the relevance of their practices before adopting them. Secondly, realize that imitation of others provides little competitive advantage. It is better to improve upon the best practices of other organizations by inventing new approaches not yet discovered or used.

For weLEAD, this is Greg Thomas reminding you that it was Edmund Burke, who once said,

"You can never plan the future by the past."

To learn more about leadership go to the weLEAD Home Page!