Advertisement
Advertisement
100416_innovation
ATD Blog

How Innovation Actually Happens

Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Advertisement

In the September 2016 issue of Harvard Business Review, Clay Christensen, Harvard Business School professor and global authority on innovation, writes: “For as long as we can remember, innovation has been a top priority—and a top frustration—for leaders.” Christensen goes on to report data from a recent McKinsey poll that found 84 percent of global executives think innovation is extremely important to their growth strategies, but a staggering 94 percent are dissatisfied with their organizations’ innovation.   Ask any group of people to define creativity and innovation and their lists will likely be nearly identical. In reality, those terms are as different as terms like activity vs. results. Let’s differentiate creativity and innovation by using a plain-spoken definition: Creativity is about coming up with the big idea; innovation is about executing on the idea—converting the idea into a successful business proposition of value. 

Which do you think is easier? Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that anyone can come up with an idea, but few people can either put together a team, an environment, or a process that converts that idea to something useful. For instance, in the case of public service organizations and nonprofits, it’s about creating value of a different sort—a better city, classroom, or congregation. 

In Solving the Innovation Mystery: A Workplace Whodunit, I examine the slower moving truth of how innovation actually happens—and just why we must resist the hero tale and the mirage that is the eureka moment.

Advertisement

Read a sample chapter from Solving the Innovation Mystery here.

About the Author

A leadership speaker and executive coach, Steve Gladis, PhD, is an authority on the topic of leadership. CEO of Steve Gladis Leadership Partners—a leadership development company—he is also the author of 25 books on leadership. A professor at George Mason University, he serves as a senior scholar in its Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Gladis works with businesses, associations, and US government agencies, and he speaks regularly at conferences and corporate off-sites. He is a former faculty member at the University of Virginia and also served as an FBI special agent and was a decorated officer in the US Marine Corps. His company donates a significant portion of corporate profits back to the community.
Some of his books include Leading Teams: Understanding the Team Leadership Pyramid; Leading Well: Becoming a Mindful Leader-Coach; The Trusted Leader: Understanding the Trust Triangle; Smile. Breathe. Listen: The 3 Mindful Acts for Leaders; Self-Leadership: Become the CEO of your Own Career; Solving the Innovation Mystery; and Positive Leadership: The Game Changer at Work.

Be the first to comment
Sign In to Post a Comment
Sorry! Something went wrong on our end. Please try again later.