Does Process Kill Innovation?

I think this is a fairly common debate.  I tend to find a lot more Six Sigma types in resource and commodity companies.  In these environments they also tend to have more clout.  The mindset is conducive to the engineering process driven environment and hence like a hot house flower they thrive.  I am sure that process is not a bedrock for  excellent innovation; what I am not so sure of is whether process supports and sustains innovation.  I think this will form part of my next research project in Metacomm.  I have plenty of clients asking me these types of questions and I can draw upon my own business experience as a leader, owner and consultant.  I do think the paradigm will be either/or; it will be an ‘and’ paradigm- my forecast now.  Process is to many a comfort- to others a big brick wall.  Our environment as individuals and organisations demands agility- the world is changing quickly and big changes are more sudden than in the past.  My own bias is toward a non- process dependent collaborative environment with my colleagues.

Is Your Planning Short or Long?

We live in a short term world. The short term world is looking down the barrel of environmental, social and financial disaster. Oh yeah- another doom and gloomer. Well I see the reports that the economy is now lifting again but yet I can see no fundamental changes to the capitalist paradigm. I see business leaders sighing relief around the world but not really changing the way they approach sustainability. Sustainability across the interconnected environment we live in; healthy organisations tend to sprout healthy communities, more effective families and better educated and adjusted children. SImplistic? Darn right. I could spend a lifetime outlining this treatise but the principles that guide this universe (or at least our part in it) are indisputable. Have a look at this guy;  he gets it.  Whether his market forecasts are correct are not is not material; it just shows us how ridiculous it is to delegate our future to ‘the market.’   The recent financial meltdown is not the end.  It was a foretelling of some grander impacts we are going to deal with in years to come.  It was a great alert about hubris but unfortunately it was not enough to create lasting change.  I hope many people watch what happens in Copenhagen.

A Great Way to See How Fast Things are Moving

Intention

What is your intention today?  Did you wake up and consider how you are going to spend your day?  I am talking about more than a to-do list or calendar.  I am speaking here of a thought process cloaked in the joy and awe of being granted another day of life.  If you can imagine waking up every day with a sense of absolute joy without external forces influencing your activities; what would you do?  Of course we can all imagine such a reality but few of us realise such reality.  It does not matter.  Our intention can be applied to every activity and can dramatically shift our consciousness while we undertake our day to day activities (or to-do list).  What is your intent as you enter the office?  Are you kind or aloof?  Is your intent to spread happiness and positivity or are you indifferent.  I guess the best the way to get started is take the time to consider your intention.  It could be a part of your morning routine; half conscious in bed, enjoying a coffee or a warm shower.  Capture the intent in words and then link that to an emotion- usually happiness, joy, peace, serenity etc.  Once you have captured the intention in a word or phrase and you can feel the emotion you then create a visualisation of the acitivities of the day being undertaken with this intention.  You can imagine the spreading positivity as you walk in the city with a pleasant face and eye contact with others.  You can visualise positive interactions with other people, successful meetings and a wonderful evening with your spouse or partner.  Intention- emotion- visualisation.   Intention has helped me drive focus, maintain mental equilibrium, enhance my awareness, and provide a behavioural compass.  In the next post I might write about dedication; a higher degree of intention and one not commonly explored.