Innovating with Government stakeholders

Innovation is challenging, but it seems even more difficult when government is a stakeholder.   The reason for this post is to solicit ideas and approaches on how to innovate when dealing with government? 

Your thoughts and insight would be greatly appreciated. 

Leadership and Innovation: How do they relate?

In previous posts we have talked about the call for leadership as a domain.  One where you flow in and out of, based on what is called for at the time.  Leadership is needed when you are trying to "create", said another way, leadership is needed when you are bring something new into existence.  

Innovation too, is about bringing something new into existence.  Something that is invented, something that is being used elsewhere and applying it to a new problem, or used in a different way..

In my view, (IDEA + Expected Results) * 2 the power of the (embracing the) unfamiliar =  INNOVATION.

As a result, I would say, leadership and innovation are co-dependent and synergistic.  What is your view?

Creativity as a channel for experience!

In the world of leadership and Business - where do you rank "Creativity"?

Can creativity be a channel for an enjoyable experience?

Share your views on Creativity.....

I believe that the basis for innovation is our willingness to be creative.  Finding new ways to do old things comes from being creative.   Being willing to look at other industries for how they do what you do.. differently.. is creative.

Share your views and experiences with Creativity in the workplace.

Untested Assumptions

What are untested assumptions, other that the quickest way to derail any leadership initiative you may undertake.

I should start with a definition: Assumptions is "something taken for granted, something that is believed to be true, but with no evidence.

All too often we choose to leave our assumptions (and assumptions of others) to go untested or unchallenged. We don't seek evidence for them, yet we use them to shape our decisions.

This can obviously lead to disaster. (that statement alone is an untested assumption... could it lead to disaster... I don't know.. but shouldn't you check before you believe that it could?)

If you start to look for the underlying assumptions that either you are using or other are, you will find that they are everywhere. Paying close attention to them can help you uncover enormous opportunities and bring clarity to what you do.

Generating Relationship

An interesting way to think about relationships (and one that is not commonplace) is to think about relationships as a generative phenomenon. Left alone, uncared for, your relationship will cease to exist. We have all seen it, we have all experienced it, but have you ever thought of it from the perspective of generating it.

A neat distinction, and if you are really interested in having a relationship.. some very insightful knowing, and therefore action that you must do to sustain or build relationships if your desire is to have them.

We have seen relationships degenerate around us, and we have probably even contributed to their demise (not by doing, but by not doing or not generating) What do you see?

How come politics is only about self-interest

Politics is littered with Self-interest and virtually no leadership. I can only imagine that people that choose a career in politics begin with a desire to service the public, their community or their Country. What happens that diverts them from this noble goal, to one of party rhetoric and self-interest above all else.

I have yet to see a politician that can actually acknowledge that someone from another party actually had a good idea. Or is acting in a way that is in service of their constituents, or is aligned with their ideology. Why would that be so wrong? In Canada, we learn in high-school that political parties, have different ideologies. There are common problems for a Country, and the difference political parties hold different approaches to solving them. Why is this so bad? Why is it that politicians don't have the confidence (in themselves) to stand for their beliefs? To stand as leaders do, in the face of no agreement. Any act of leadership means you are standing in the face of no agreement (otherwise leadership wouldn't be required). So when it comes to politicians, they (all parties) seem more comfortable, telling you why their opponent (isn't doing something, is changing their own position, etc.. etc.. etc...). If they were real leaders they would have a position and share it, support it, and have the courage to talk about it.. and when different view are put forward, they should have the confidence to review, appreciate and understand other viewpoints.. and maybe.. they should have the confidence to include them.. cause maybe the ideas are good, and they just haven't thought about it in that way...

In organization, that is what leaders do.... so why are politicians so difference? and what does it serve.... self-interest, I guess...

Human System Change

What does it take to change behaviour?

Some event (actually or perceived) is what is needed to change habitual behaviors. With a new year upon us, do you have a behaviour that you want to change?

If this behaviour doesn't change ... where will the road you are traveling take you? (call that the status quo).

What is the cost of the status quo? When the (metaphoric) cost of the status quo becomes to expensive, changing behaviour will be a snap. Look back into your own experience when you have changed a habitual behaviour... At what point did you decide that the cost of the status quo was too high??? What was the breakdown that occurred, prior to the behavioural change?? Answering these questions will provide you valuable knowledge if you want to change a habitual behaviour... Conduct an inquiry on yourself.. and the results may be illuminating for you......

New Year's Resolutions and Leadership

It's that time of year.. the end.. where we thinking about our past and decide that we need to be doing something different in the coming year.



This has caused me to think about "new year's resolutions". What are they? Are they representations of our intentions? Are they a procrastinators worse nightmare or are they just a gentle motivator to start the ball of courage rolling when it comes to the call for leadership we might need in our life.



Whatever it is for you, it is a great opportunity to take action. And leadership is about taking action. Moving towards an intention that lives within you and that can manifest itself in the world only when you take action.



What is your intention for 2009? What new reality will you bring to the world (or your world) that without your decisive action it would never come to pass?

Call 4 Leadership during the holidays

Effective leadership comes from effective relationship. Effective relationships comes from understanding that; relationships are generative... ie. you need to work at them for relationships to grow, develop and be effective.

Reflecting back over the past year, have you had relationships that were enriched by your active participation in them? Maybe you haven't thought about relationships in this way, but if you take a moment, what do you think?

Have you had a relationship in the past year that has broken down in some way? Or maybe just has been as good as it might otherwise be? Could be an old friend you have loss contact with etc..

Wouldn't now be a good time to experience the effectiveness of "generating" relationship and see for yourself the results?

Holidays seem to be when people are willing to start new, grant trust, turn over a new leaf... So isn't is a good time to try? The only thing is takes is "YOU" to make the first move, "YOU" to take the first (and maybe second, and maybe third, and maybe forth....) step. Because relationships are generative, and leadership is about what "YOU" can do... So do it.. and benefit from the results....

Generative Relationships

Have you ever thought of relationships as being something that needs to be generated?

"Out of sight out of mind!" Why? Have you ever wondered why as relationships begin to breakdown, they do so at an accelerated rate when there is no communication? When there is no communication, it is not that the relationship is getting worse, it just isn't getting better.

But if you think of a relationship that is something that must be generated. Said another way, worked at for it to be sustained and grow. You will begin to see relationships in a different light. And one that will serve you, in your quest for leadership. Share your thoughts on the concept of generating relationships....

Deflection instead of courage..

True leaders stand for .. what they believe.. it takes courage, sometimes a lot of courage. Why is it so many "so called" leaders choose to use deflections.. Eg. If he didn't ...x then I wouldn't have had to do ...y.

Personally I find this so disturbing.

As a leader, you need to be accountable for what you say and what you do. It needs to be backed by your convictions and consistent with your values.

In the current Canadian political environment few leaders are willing to do this.. The Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe.. Although I don't agree with his policies, I think he is the most authentic of all the politicians. And maybe we should call them that; politicians and NOT leaders.

Canadian Politics - a sad representation of leadership

The past week has been an artful display of the worst things about leadership. It brings to the forefront the role that ego, positional power and abuses of leadership play under the cover of democracy.

I was disgusted to hear how a Coalition of decenter can come together for their own purpose.. but claim it is for the greater good.

What I didn't see was anything close to leadership demonstrated by the Coalition heads (wrongly call leaders). In particular Stephane Dion and Jack Layton. There may have be more credence to their position if Dion would have said, we are creating a coalition to appose the view of this government, and although I am responsible for putting it together, I would not lead the government as that would be self interest and not in the best interest of the Country (given his dismal showing in the last election). That would have been to me, someone that was using leadership for the good of the Country. But no, their plans had to include (self, ego, and personal gain). And quite frankly there wasn't a clear thinking Canadian that didn't see through what they were doing...


Although demonstrated on the National stage, this too lives in organizations. But when there is a call 4 leadership, you need to park your ego at the door. You need to provide what is missing and that goes beyond a personal benefit. That is not so say that you can't benefit from your leadership (in fact you should), but that can't be the only purpose. And if it is you should at least have the courage to stand up and say that, and not try to hide behind others as they are the cause for what you are doing... you are the cause for what you are doing.. you have the ability to choose... you have the ability to start what you are going to do, or stop what you are doing... to be a leader you need to be transparent in what you are doing, and why you are doing it, and you will garner the support of many more people than you would otherwise.

Being a leader doesn't require a Leadership Position

Why is it, that we think that to be a leader we need to have a title?

In fact, leadership is all around you (if you are open to see it).

Leadership is about bringing something new into existence. Leadership is about getting results. Particularly results that were not prescribed (in terms of a process to get there). Management is about repeatable, consistent, predictable results. Management is a science. Leadership however is an art. And one that often begins with nothing more than a blank canvas. An idea, an intention, a desire to go to work on. With Leadership, you must stand in the face of no agreement. Not disagreement, just no agreement. That is when there is a call for leadership.. And this happens in all walks of life, in all situations, at all ages, and where positional power doesn't even matter. In fact, I am sure you can find many examples of people with positional power, and are not leaders at all.

I am interested in your thoughts about leadership, and times when you have found (either in yourself or in others) where leadership stood out, results were achieved irrespective of positional power .. share your views.

Leadership

What makes a good leader? Do you see a distinction between leadership and mangement?