innovation
Four Reasons Innovation Matters Now More Than Ever
Flickr Photo: _heather_r_My mother-in-law is famous in our family for one phrase: "Get Over It." I've adopted it pretty broadly; it's handy when your husband or child is whining. But it also has useful business applications. Though I rarely say it out loud, I think it a lot, then try to find slightly more tactful versions, like "Maybe there's another solution to this problem?"
I do a lot of public speaking on social media, the cloud, business intelligence, and other emergent trends in nonprofit technology. No matter what the topic is, I'm asked some variation on, "I'm a nonprofit. I don't have any money. I can't afford to be innovative. How can I be expected to think about these changes?"
I've been asked this question so many times, I should probably say what I really mean about embracing innovation. Here are a few reasons I think you should get over it, and what to do about it:
Leading for Innovation: Creating a Culture of Learning in Your Organization
Elissa Perry, Leadership Learning Community
"When knowledge gained somewhere doesn't move elsewhere, that's not a learning organization; that's just a bunch of projects." - The Saratoga Institute
It can be difficult to encourage new ideas and innovation from people who aren't in positions with leadership titles or much technical authority. People fear speaking up for reasons tied not just to personal style, but also -- and perhaps more commonly -- to organizational culture. There are a number of challenges as well as supports that can limit or open the space for learning and exchange in an organization.
You should start by fostering and supporting a culture of learning and innovation.
