Recently I heard Tom Kelly of Stanford University speak on the topic of innovation, defined as "doing new things." As leaders, we are called upon to innovate as we work to impact our community. Kelly went on to describe habits that help achieve innovation.
Think like a traveler. When we travel we see with wide-open eyes, hyper-aware, looking for things of interest. We notice things that are similar and different to what we are used to. We pay attention to details, using all of our senses to take in the new surroundings. How does this relate to leadership? A leader must be ever aware, looking for needs, opportunities, and solutions. As leaders, we must stay aware, even in our ordinary environment, intentionally noticing details that need our attention.
Treat life as an experiment. An innovator is willing to take a risk, to try new and varied solutions in order to make a difference. This brings to mind the many inventors who were willing to try again and again: Thomas Edison, Jonas Salk, Alexander Graham Bell. They were willing to fail many times in order to finally succeed. As leaders, we must also be willing to risk failure as we try many ways to impact our community. Some of our ideas will be accepted enthusiastically, while others will be rejected. Leaders do not give up; we are willing to fail forward, always looking for the next success.
Cultivate an attitude of wisdom. Wisdom comes from living in the world, learning, paying attention, asking questions, looking for service opportunities. A leader seeks wisdom and uses good judgment when making decisions. Leaders call on the strengths and experiences of others for inspiration, assistance, and wisdom.
In order to ensure success, continued practice of these habits is required. We must keep our eyes open, be willing to take risks, and seek wisdom as we strive to make a difference in our community.
I wrote this article for Tidings, a publication of Altrusa International.
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