Innovation doesnt always have to be revolutionary. But perhaps it should be evolutionary? 🤔

I’ve been rereading the fantastic book “Be Less Zombie” by Elvin Turner recently, whilst also designing a leadership development programme for an international client, and its got me thinking deeper about the relationship between innovation, adaptability and leadership.

When we hear the word innovation, we often think of something extraordinary. A breakthrough idea. A disruptive technology. A complete reinvention of how we do things, and more than likely the innovation being considered is externally focused (as a new product or service).

But surely innovation doesn’t always need to be that dramatic?

Sometimes its simply asking:
💡 Why do we do it this way?
💡 What could we do differently?
💡 What might happen if we challenged an assumption?
💡 What small experiment could make something better?
💡 What about our internal customers, what can we do to make them more effective?

And this is where I believe adaptability becomes such an important enabler of innovation.

Because having a great idea is one thing. Being willing to challenge established thinking, unlearn familiar behaviours, experiment with alternatives and respond to what we discover is quite another.

Of course, none of this happens particularly well in an environment where people are afraid to question the status quo or make mistakes. Which brings us back to leadership and the importance of creating psychological safety. Leaders dont necessarily need to be the source of every innovative idea. But they do have a responsibility to create the conditions where curiosity, constructive challenge and experimentation can flourish.

Here Resourceful People Group Ltd, we often talk about the relationship between IQ, EQ and AQ — thinking well, connecting deeply and adapting intelligently.

And perhaps innovation is a great example of all three working together. After all, if were only prepared to change when something is broken, are we really innovating? Or simply reacting?

Maybe the most innovative organisations arent necessarily those making the biggest changes, but those that never stop looking for ways to become better. In a world of constant change (regardless if it is for external or internal customers) innovation is an essential to retain a sustainable competitive advantage.

Regardless of size of business this is now an essential characteristic for any business that needs to survive mid to long term, and hence why we at RPG are delighted to be certified partners and associates of the AQai – Adaptability Assessments & CoachingReinvention AcademyChange Management Institute.

So if you want to find out how we make a real difference, please reach out to us.

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