In this final post in the series, I share thoughts on innovation and preparing for growth through education.
Professor Stewart Friedman in Work+Home+Community+Self from the September issue of Harvard Business Review states the third leadership principle is being innovative.
Friedman shares six strategies for being innovative to support the earlier described “four way win” concept. They are:
- Being results focused
- Resolving conflicts
- Challenging the established way of doing things
- Envisioning new ways to do things
- Embracing change with a creative spin
- Creating an innovation culture
At Intertech, innovation is woven into the fabric of who we operate. For example, once a year, through our FedEx Day employees have 24 hours to work on anything they choose. Also, once a year, we hold a town hall–where the leadership team is absent–and the employees have an open discussion on what we should start doing, stop doing, and continuing doing as well as identify strengths and weaknesses in the firm.
Personally, I spend a month away somewhere warm every January with my family. Most mornings start with a pot of coffee and reflection, envisioning the future, and brainstorming goals and plans to make those goals a reality.
To help prepare for leading a larger organization and think in new ways, I read a variety of magazines, blogs, and books, attend executive education–I’ll be headed to the London School of Business in March–and participate in Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO).
Friedman states “leading the life you want is a craft. As with music, writing, dance or any athletic endeavor, you can always get better at it by practicing.”
I agree!
When 1,500 workers were surveyed by the American Psychological Association, 1/3 shared issues with their supervisor as a source of work stress.
