Why do companies still not see originality as part of their essential DNA? Is it ignorance, lack of education or just fearful of change? Whatever the reason it’s proving to be fatal and catching out many of the greats (Kodak, RIM). Why does it not ring alarm bells when we’ve just about survived a near global economic breakdown? Something’s severely broken and it’s beyond repair.
Innovation, doing stuff contrary to the assumed, treating everyone with the unreserved respect they deserve needs to take center stage. Patching up old models with re-hashed scientific top-down management philosophies, written by smart people with lots of glowing credentials from the past is frankly desperate. Corporates have to allow more freedom to each and every employee. Human innovation is what’s required, but you need to appreciate that it can’t be enforced.
‘We’re awfully innovative, it’s fundamental to what we do’, complete bullshit. These companies are lying to themselves. Painting the picture of an all-embracing ‘modern business’ when in reality it’s bordering on the wacky to even think ‘modern’. Let’s go beyond all the fluffy ‘modernized business model blueprints’ and senior managements determination to force ‘creative’ down the throats of their subordinates. Truth told businesses are still drenched in the same old bureaucratic red tape tosh supported by old industrial managerial models. Management models invented back at the dawn of factory work, instilling fear and discipline. Uniquely designed to keep workers inline, automated and never question the ‘status quo’. Do you really think this promotes all that’s ‘modern’, ‘innovative’ and ‘creative’?
Driving innovation comes from creating the right environment, unlocking your employee’s imaginative right side of the brain. Each and every one of us, to some extent, is creative. No single person knows who, where and when the ‘next big thing’ will originate from. We all just need to be given the opportunity to try.
