Innovation From the Inside Out

by Mitch Ditkoff

These days, almost all of my clients are talking about the need to establish a culture of innovation.

Some, I'm happy to report, are actually doing something about it. Hallelujah! They are taking bold steps forward to turn theory into action.

Still, the challenge remains the same for them as it does thousands of other forward-thinking companies - and that is, to find a simple, authentic way to address the challenge from the inside out - to water the root of the tree, not just the branches.

In today's process-driven, OD-centric, Six-Sigma savvy organization, the tendency is to focus on systems as opposed to people - as if systems were sufficient to guarantee change.

Guess what? Systems are not sufficient to guarantee change. In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, "Systems die. Instinct remains."

This is not to say that organizations should ignore systems and structures in their effort to establish a culture of innovation. They shouldn't.

But systems and structures all too often become the Holy Grail - much in the same way that Six Sigma has become the Holy Grail.

Unfortunately, when the addiction to systems and structures rules the day, an organization's quest for a culture of innovation degenerates into nothing much more than a cult of innovation.

Organizations do not innovate. People innovate. Inspired people. Fascinated people. Creative people. Committed people. That's where innovation begins. On the inside.

The organization's role - just like the individual manager's role - is to get out of the way. And while this "getting out of the way" will undoubtedly include the effort to formulate supportive systems, processes, and protocols, it is important to remember that systems, processes, and protocols are never the answer.

They are the context, not the content.

They are the husk, not kernel.

They are the menu, not the meal.

Ultimately, organizations are faced with the same challenge that religions are faced with. Religious leaders may speak passionately about the virtues their congregation needs to be living by, but sermons only name the challenge and remind people to experience something - they don't necessarily change behavior.

Change comes from within the heart and mind of each individual. It cannot be legislated or evangelized into reality.

What's needed in organizations who aspire to a culture of innovation, is an inner change. People need to experience something within themselves that will spark and sustain their effort to innovate - and when they experience this "something," they will be self-sustaining.

They will think about their projects in the shower, in their car, and in their dreams. They will need very little "management" from the outside. Inside out will rule the day - not outside in. Intrinsic motivation will flourish.

People will innovate not because they are told to, but because they want to. Open Space Technology is a good metaphor for this. When people are inspired, share a common, compelling goal and have the time and space to collaborate, the results become self-organizing.

You can create all the reward systems you want. You can reinvent your workspace until you're blue in the face. You can license the latest and greatest idea management tool, but unless each person in your organization OWNS the need to innovate and finds a way to tap into their own INNATE BRILLIANCE, all you'll end up with is a mixed bag of systems, processes, and protocols - the husk, not the kernel - the innovation flotsam and jetsam that the next administration or next CEO or next key stakeholder will mock, reject or change at the drop of a hat if the ROI doesn't show up in the next 20 minutes.

You want culture change? You want a culture of innovation?

Great. Then find a way to help each and every person in your organization come from the inside out. Deeply consider how you can awaken, nurture, and develop the primal need all people have to create something extraordinary.


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Mitch Ditkoff is the Co-Founder and President of Idea Champions and the author of "Awake at the Wheel", as well as the very popular Heart of Innovation blog.

Returning To Your Innovation Center

by Mike Brown

HBO ran a program on preparations by four-time NASCAR Nextel Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson and his team for racing in the 2010 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

At the first 2010 team meeting, Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus called the team's attention to the bare walls in the meeting room. He highlighted the absence of all the awards and pictures celebrating the team's fourth NASCAR championship in 2009. Knaus let the team know it is on the hook to perform at a level in 2010 to allow them to fill the walls once again with racing successes.

Maybe a move like that is easier when you've won 4 NASCAR championships in a row!

But it's a great reminder for any of us:

• Don't rest on your laurels. Instead, get motivated for the successes that lie ahead of you.

So when you look around your office, what do you see?

Are you stuck in past wins, or do you have motivators for the greatness that's yet to come?


Editor's Note: I love the point of this post. Leaders celebrate when it's time to celebrate, but are never satisfied, and always stand ready for the next innovation challenge. One of the things that makes Tiger Woods so great is how fast he can return to center - whether he has just hit his best shot - or his worst. Companies that don't celebrate their innovation victories demotivate people - you have to make time for it - but companies that celebrate their innovation victories too long are soon passed by those eager to push the boundaries even farther.

Are you satisfied?


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Mike Brown is an award-winning innovator in strategy, communications, and experience marketing. He authors the Brainzooming TM blog, and serves as the company's chief Catalyst. He wrote the ebook "Taking the NO Out of InNOvation" and is a frequent keynote presenter.

Video Interview - Dan Pink - Author of "Drive"

by Braden Kelley

I had the opportunity to interview Dan Pink, author of the new book "Drive" at a biznik event last night. If you're not familiar with biznik, it is an online community for entreprenurs and the independently employed. Instead of just stopping there, Biznik organizes several in-person events and an annual conference called Seattle BizJam (which I spoke at in 2007), and allows members to organize their own free or fee-supported events. I think Biznik is great and they are headquartered here in Seattle.





Dan Pink was interviewed on stage during the event by Warren Etheredge and some of the highlights from my tweets last night included:

• "A good book is a basket of ideas that is refined and spread through conversation."


• People are more likely to donate blood for altruistic reasons than for cash. Offering people money moves things from the social realm to the economic realm and behaviors and expectations change. Same is true when you begin imposing a fine on parents picking their kids up late from day care instead of people feeling obligated to be there on time.


• There is great absurdity in how open source developed if you look at it in terms of economic motivation, but the mastery drive is so strong that people participated (even without an economic incentive).


• Even though biznik has an even male-female split, more women turn up for the in-person events than men.


• People who sculpt their jobs to broaden them beyond narrow responsibilities, find more autonomy and job satisfaction.


• "Annual performance reviews are dumb. People need more frequent feedback. Imagine professional athletes only getting feedback on their performance only once a year."


• The carrot-stick approach is the wrong approach when it comes to creative, thoughtful work - non-algorithmic work.


• Using the carrot-stick approach with teachers or students is wrong. Dan Pink's solution for the education problem would be to raise teacher base pay and make it easier to get rid of bad ones.

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Braden Kelley is the editor of Blogging Innovation and founder of Business Strategy Innovation, a consultancy focusing on innovation and marketing strategy. Braden is also @innovate on Twitter.