The leadership teams of many organisations determine they seek innovation and include it as one of their values or enablers for achieving their vision.
However do these same leaders actively encourage the divergent thinking required to produce innovation? In my experience they don’t.
We still have far too many business leaders who fear conflict and this prevents the innovation that is possible. I see it regularly in the leadership programs I facilitate – people are “shut down” when they initiate divergent thinking because it is seen as preventing quick action.
However the quick action that is taken is secure and safe and perpetuates the status quo. Unleash your courage as a leader and embrace the vitality of conflict.
