According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, innovation is defined as “a new idea, method or device”. It also means “the introduction of something new.” “Innovation is vital for organizational thriving in the complex reality of the 21st century”. (Elkington, 2015.) The reason innovation is needed in organizations is due to the various viewpoints that make up this complex world. Without current ideas or devices, it is hard for an organization to adapt with ever changing environments that exist internally and externally that is evident with a PESTLE Analysis within an organization.
One way to lead change while including differing perspectives is to encourage your team members to speak up with ideas and observations. If people feel heard and are respected when sharing thoughts, they are more likely to open up and share with one another. This takes courage and bravery which is not always the norm in all organizations. “Courage is contagious. To scale daring leadership and build courage in teams and organizations, we have to cultivate a culture in which brave work, tough conversations, and whole hearts are the expectation, and armor is not necessary or rewarded.” (Brown, 2018, p.12)
It is not only important to foster a culture of vulnerability and self-awareness in your organization where people feel comfortable sharing thoughts and ideas, but it is also important to hire a diverse population of employees. When there are different perspectives from diverse backgrounds, creativity and innovation increases and allows the organization to grow and prosper. This allows leaders to reach out and appeal to a bigger audience of customers to expand a business, and leaders can also express the WHY of their organization.
References
Brown, B. (2018). Dare to lead: Brave work, tough conversations, whole hearts. Random House.
“Innovation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/innovation. Accessed 22 Jul. 2023.
Elkington, R. (2015). Innovative leadership as enabling function within organizations: A complex adaptive system approach. Journal of Leadership Studies, 9(3), 78–80.