Innovation Leadership for Busy People

A few weeks ago, I was at a conference in Amsterdam that addressed some serious topics.

For example, economic turmoil, financial fairness and social responsibility of technology.

Solutions to these serious topics were proposed by serious people.

For example, the EU commissioner, the CEO of Heineken and the Queen of the Netherlands.

Over 24 hours, an overwhelming amount of information, insight and inspiration was shared.

There was so much that could be done and needed to be done.

As well as anxiety that not enough or even nothing might happen.

That’s when I stepped on stage.

Exploring the space between inspiration and action

I had been asked to help the audience shift to action.

To integrate what they had heard into their work and lives.

So that despite being busy people, they could make a positive contribution to one of the serious topics.

Rather than jump to action mode, as is typical in business forums, we explored why this shift from inspiration to action is so hard.

We simply don’t invest in behavioural processes in any serious way, as we do the technical processes of innovation, change and transformation.

Yet, as 1,000 smiling and nodding heads confirmed, we all know the experience of an inspiring start jumping into action, ultimately leading to a frustrating end.

Illuminating emotional influences in your work

Before jumping to action, I invited the audience to think about the emotional environment they would return to the next work day.

And to do so in a science-led way starting with people’s outlook.

Either their own outlook or that of those they work with.

Also, to not just name it but asses it’s dynamic nature.

Is it balanced, in a surge or stuck at an extremely high or low position?

By assessing the dynamic nature of the emotional material, people quickly identified ways to add, subtract or sustain the emotional energy in the immediately following design workshops.

It turns out that this simple way of naming, explaining, taming and changing behavioural processes of innovation enabled them to take action better.

That’s pretty awesome.

There is nothing more inspiring than 1,200 serious people taking real action.

To stop being technically busy and start being behaviorally aware.

All that, from just one of the six behavioural drivers of innovation leadership.

They are busy people after all.

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