Leading for innovation
Submitted by Katherine William... on Tue, 29/09/2009 - 11:36
Solving problems by doing things differently can make you more effective. The key to finding new ideas that work is working within an innovative culture. This means having leaders who allow time and space for innovation and value it; accept risk and failure; and are open to ideas from inside and out.
Is your organisation lead to be open to new ideas or is 'innovation' just a buzzword of no relevance to you?
Hi Katherine
I like your suggestion that being innovative is partly about organisational culture. In your experience, would you say there are other things, internal or external, that drive innovation?
Richard
I think many smaller charities owe their very existence to finding an innovative solution to a previously unmet need. So in many cases I think it is unmet needs, induividuals close to the front line and sheer personal detremination that dirves innovation.
As organisations get bigger, it becomes harder for them to be as nimble. If innovation is to remain at the heart of what they do, often processes have to be in place to harvest ideas, filter, develop and implement them. But the drive to innovate should always come from the need that has to be met whether it be fundraising, meeting needs of a new audience or providing a new service. It is when these have been identified that people can get together and develop creative solutions.
But of course , they won't do that unless the organisation they are in fosters a culture of innovation in the first place, which brings me back to the original point - start by fostering an innovative culture.