PROBLEM-SOLVING IS NOT INNOVATION

A lot of organizations want to “wing” it all the time. Okay, for the first few years, it seems like the need to produce or demonstrate action is very important, but disorganized action leaves much to be desired. The disorganization becomes the bane of the organization. When things plateaued, then the conversation becomes “how can we make it better?”


There is a lot of romanticism regarding being ‘grounded up’ but what does it mean:
-          Being participatory and democratic
-          Being consultative and egalitarian
-          Being able to pluck the low hanging fruit
-          Being able to be flexible and nimble
-          Being able to wing it!

While these are grand and noble things to pursue, they can be used as avoidance measures to accomplish the following, for example:

-Stretch the organization systems to focus on strategic rather than popular;

-Plan for long-term than short-term, including delaying short-term pleasures and gains for long-term stability and growth;

-Increase the commitment of Board, staff, or Steering Committee to aspire for the systems-wide thinking  and deliberate attempt to take a stab on things, not just to wander from one initiative to another;

-Increase uncertainty but decrease the level of politics that is blocking any meaningful organizational change to happen;

-destabilize conservative views, offer new thinking, and increase executive leadership from that of being an administrative  manager to a leader;
 
Innovation rarely occurs in the everyday problem-solving. Putting out fires increases your level of adrenalin but rarely gets you to your ultimate destination.  Strategic focus is more needed when the times are tough, the money is low, friends have left, and there is a room for mistakes. 

​But I guess, it's not common sense. 

Let me know what you think. ​