Perhaps *THE* key to innovative companies?

We know a lot more than many realize about what it takes for an organization to be -and stay- innovative. This something I’ve consulted on for years and studied for even longer. The message hasn’t changed in decades: The heart of the matter is learning to think entrepreneurially and keeping that mindset. It’s not bureaucracy that kills innovation, it is bureaucratic thinking. We (organizations and communities) need to cultivate a cognitive (human) infrastructure that encourages innovation and entrepreneurial thinking. Stanford’s Bob Sutton is “da man” in understanding how our businesses can be innovative. He will tell you there is nothing new; we have long known the keys to innovative activity, the keys for firms to stay entrepreneurial. We just can’t seem to DO them. So, who blocks them? To find out, take this test before reading further… [note: rude word alert in link]

http://tinyurl.com/29ba44

Funny? Yup, but there’s a subtle but strong message about how to advance innovation - and what kinds of attitudes and behaviors can derail it…When I heard Bob talk about this, he shared how much blowback he got from his Stanford colleagues who pointed out that to be even remotely successful in academic politics, you MUST be an “asshole” by Sutton’s standards. He heard the exact same thing from friends in large corporations. (And think about it - we all know people who’d be baffled why some of the jerk behaviors listed are considered bad! LOL)

But that proves his point: Bureaucratic thinking drives out entrepreneurial thinking. If you are an expert at bureaucratic thinking, you may think you’re being “entrepreneurial”, you may think you’re being “innovative” but… you are definitely not. And you almost certainly are throttling those who are… or could be. And you probably think you’re doing what is best for the organization. That’s a huge hurdle to jump.

Marianne Jelinek is another incredible expert, having run NSF’s Innovations & Organization Change program for years. Her studies of persistently innovative firms echo Sutton’s insights (e.g., stealing the turf of others is NOT entrepreneurial, LOL). She shows tha the time to change a bureaucratic culture is… now. [BTW, if anyone wants some of these references, just holler. I’ve got a ton of good stuff by the best and brightest experts on innovative, entrepreneurial companies!]

It takes tremendous leadership to recognize whether their organization (or their piece of it) is trapped in the mindset of bureaucratic thinking or riding the turbulent rapids of entrepreneurial thinking. Fortunately, we’ve got diagnostics. (Let me know if I can help you with any diagnosing!)

However… when you took that test, did you score as perfect? I didn’t. Neither did you. Tremendous leadership is scarce and even where it does exist, let me quote that eminent philosopher, Pete Townsend: “you’ve been told many times before; messiahs pointed to the door but no one had the guts to leave the temple.”

Whether it’s Sutton or Jelinek or Peter Drucker or Rosabeth Kanter (or even Norris Krueger) - one message is clear. We know how to be innovative. Let’s cowboy/cowgirl up and do it. But where does it start? With me. So…

Let’s all take the pledge: “I hereby promise to do my damnedest to NOT be an asshole.” (& if feeling brave: “Or permit it in others.”)

strong>P.S. Wouldn’t you want to work where everyone took a formal, sworn “No Jerks!” pledge and took it seriously? Here’s Bob’s blog- it refers to just such a firm! (warning: “that” word shows up again) http://tinyurl.com/yuxnzs

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