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6. The 10 Faces of Innovation - Tom Kelley

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6. The 10 Faces of Innovation - Tom Kelley

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Overview:

In this work author Tom Kelley provides 10 approaches to innovation in organizations. He states that people can be one of, or a multitude of several of the provided frameworks in their approach to innovation. Kelley's 10 types include: the story teller, anthropologist, experimenter, cross-pollenator, set-designer, collaborator, caregiver, hurdler, experience architect, and director. Each lens provides a different approach to implementing innovation within an organization.

Why I Believe it is a Seminal Work:

This work struck an accord with me because I quickly became self-aware of how I innovate on the job. As a anthropologist I spend a great deal of time observing processes and learning how the organization players affect the systems. Further, as an experimenter I create multiple prototypes to incrementally move the organization forward. Because this book's framework allows the reader to use and implement creativity in their leadership style, I believe it is a seminal work.

How Do I Synthesize this into a Usable Construct:

I read this book at the same time of taking on a new position in a new department in my organization. This book gave me perspectives to lead from and language to lead with. Further, it gave me the freedom to create new processes, outline visions, and become a contributing organizational member. Therefore, I really liked how this work made me internally reflect, while providing room for outward expression

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7. Leadership and the New Science - Margaret Wheatley

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7. Leadership and the New Science - Margaret Wheatley

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Overview:

In this seminal work, Wheatley views leadership throughout the systems theory lens. Wheatley uses the systems tenets of interconnectedness, chaos theory, and information flow as the basis of leadership. She begins at the premise that Western organizations view leadership from the machine metaphor (use fear & reward), and not from a systems perspective. By understanding that organizations are living systems we can lead and develop new/better organizations. Wheatley states that information informs us and then forms us, order can develop from chaos, information needs to be shared, and that relationships are all that matter in living organizations. Lastly, Wheatley states that people develop a sense of purpose from the dreams of the organization, and that purpose drives behavior. Therefore, we must lead by continually articulating the vision of the department, organization, etc. to guide desired behaviors.

Why I Believe it is a Seminal Work:

This work is an easy to read, however very deep look into the relationship of systems and leadership. This book provides the reader with reason to think different and to adapt new mental models on what it means to lead in organizations. Further, this book calls for leaders to be creative to connect with followers and develop new visions for the future. Systems are interconnected, therefore leaders must understand how processes affect the system as a whole. Thus, when creating new processes or plans, the leader must be able to think creatively to full understand the impact of the decisions.

How Do I Synthesize this into a Usable Construct:

This book has allowed me to become comfortable with chaos and assisted me on finding the patterns of order that emerge in chaos. By doing this I am able to report on information that helps form new processes and create new efficiencies. Further, understanding that relationships are the basis of every organization guides my communication with organizational members. I approach people differently, see things differently, and find connections in our del-imposed laws that are currently causing issues. Systems theory is a beautiful thing. This book is the door to a deeper you!

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Overview:

Theory U provides readers with an existential examination of leadership. Scharmer's framework asks readers to open their hearts, minds, and being to accept is view on creating change and leading within an organization. The book which is heavily systems driven, demonstrates how a leader can move both themselves and groups of followers through the U, thus getting the follower to accept and flourish in change. Theory U in it's own right is a creative expression. The theory continually asks the readers and practitioners to suspend their personal mental models and open themselves up to open heart, open mind, and open will...

Why I Believe it is a Seminal Work:

This book is one of my favorite leadership books ever. At first I was slow to adapt to Scharmer's methods, however after I changed my perspective I began to see and understand how creative and effective the approach to leadership actually is. By convincing yourself to suspend yourself, and accept others perspectives before moving forward, requires that the leader is creative in nature. Further, by examining oneself and finding the blind spot, leaders can become more self aware of who they are and how they function.

How Do I Synthesize this into a Usable Construct:

I use this work 2 fold, to analyze my decisions and to understand my employee's positions.

I use Scharmer's work during the decision making process to fully understand the position. By suspending my goto reaction and analyzing the situation with an open heart and open mind I am much less likely to react based on my mental models. Further, by trying to understand the true need and wants of the situation I tend to have to think creatively to discover the best possible solution.

Further, Scharmer's work has increased my ability and desire to actively engage in listening. I currently try to focus on what people are truly communicating, thus providing a greater understanding of the true needs and wants of the situation.

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Overview:
Howard Garnder, the psychologist that developed the theory of multiple intelligence, also wrote a seminal work on creativity. Gardner's presents a conceptual framework for studying the origin of an individuals creativity from the basis family/teachers, the individual (as a child and master), and the work. Further, he argues that creativity (to this point) was studied from a divergent thinking perspective, and that it should be viewed from both a convergent and divergent perspective. Lastly his book examines 7 creative minds including Gandhi, Elliott, Freud, & Einstein.

Why I Believe it is a Seminal Work:

This book provides a correlation between leadership and creativity. The section on Gandhi especially demonstrates how leader can present ideas to inspire and motivate others through peaceful resistance. It was in these creative expressions of peace that Gandhi connected with the masses and lead a peaceful revolution. This book, which is elevated in it's writing style, is a serious contender for studying and and measuring creativity. Moreover, it provides the reader with a background of creative studies and demonstrates it through the lens of masters from various fields.

How Do I Synthesize this into a Usable Construct:

I use picked up this book a few years ago because I loved Gardner's work on IQ. For me, this book was the first that demonstrated that creativity was everywhere, in every field. Being creative is not for artist and designers only, but it is for everyone in every field. By understanding how creativity develops and is expressed in different fields, this book gave me permission to express creativity in my work.

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3. Yuval Noah Harari - What explains the rise of humans.

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3. Yuval Noah Harari - What explains the rise of humans.

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Overview:
In this work historian/professor Yuval Harari argues that humans rose to the top of the food chain because of two things; 1: the ability to flexibly cooperate. 2. The ability to believe in the same fictions (values, religion, government, organizations, money, etc).

Why I Believe it is a Seminal Work:

This work provides the basis for why leadership works. Human beings have the most powerful ability on Earth, the ability to cooperate based upon shared fictions. We have the ability to convince people why an organization, initiative, job, etc. is important. As leaders we have the ability to create these stories and convince people to give their time, effort, energy, life for a cause/job/etc. Leaders must be creative to tap into this ability of collaboration and provide a reason for people to unite around an organization's vision. It is through creative discourse that we can create these connections.

How Do I Synthesize this into a Usable Construct:
In my current role I tap into peoples ability to believe all of the time. As a leader we have to creatively present the vision of the organization in a method where people want to believe, sacrifice, and become dedicated to our cause. If we can successfully accomplish this then we have the ability to create change.

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Yuval Noah Harari: What explains the rise of humans?

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Seventy thousand years ago, our human ancestors were insignificant animals, just minding their own business in a corner of Africa with all the other animals. But now, few would disagree that humans dominate planet Earth; we've spread to every continent, and our actions determine the fate of other animals (and possibly Earth itself).

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Overview:
In this seminal work, author Tim Brown provides an argument for utilizing design thinking. Designing thinking is an iterative process that calls for creativity and innovation to fuel process (artistic, product creation, ideas, etc.). Design thinking starts from the end user/customer experience and attempts to provide the best possible result for the end user.

Why I Believe it is a Seminal Work:

This work incorporates the idea of creativity into leadership (management, process, values, customer experiences) and demonstrates through excellent examples the fruit of implementing design thinking into the organizational experience.

How Do I Synthesize this into a Usable Construct:
Currently, I use design thinking when looking to improve our alumni experiences at our athletic alumni events. Whether it is converting our rowing facility into a night club or hosting an all alumni event on Franklin Field, I try to envision the best possible outcome for our user. This includes, music, fun, flow, and food that affect the customer's overall experience. We flow and simulate people flow on paper, run prototypes for event invitations, and use past user experiences as a knowledge bank for the new one.

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1. Intellectual Stimulation: The creative factor of Transformational Leadership.

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1. Intellectual Stimulation: The creative factor of Transformational Leadership.

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Overview:
Building on Burns (1978) research, Benard Bass released Leadership and Performance Beyond Expectation. In this work Dr. Bass put the work of transformational leadership on the map and created the foundation for years of research on leadership centered on the relationship between leader and follower. Further, Bass describes 4 factors of Transformational Leadership: Idealized influence, intellectual stimulation, individual consideration, and inspirational motivation. It is the factor of intellectual stimulation that Bass speaks of creativity and leadership.

Why I Believe it is a Seminal Work:
While describing the fact of intellectual stimulation, Bass states that leaders have to be innovative and creative in their approach to challenge the assumptions of the followers. Leaders need to creatively engage their follower into accepting the organizational mission. This work explicitly calls for leaders to think differently about the way they communicate and find creative ways to adapt their message to the follower and challenge their current beliefs and values.

How Do I Synthesize this into a Usable Construct:

Whether it is with my direct reports or others in the organization I use creativity to engage through questioning. At my current employer there is a saying, "At Penn if we do it once it is tradition, and we don't break tradition." Therefore, to create change in the organization I have found that one has to be creative. I am very creative with questioning the why in a manner that is assertive and engaging. If we can creatively engage someone in a task or use innovative phrasing, then we can begin to create a culture of growth.

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Leadership and Performance Beyond Expectation

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The goal of this padlet is to provide an overview of the 7 seminal works (in no particular order) of creativity in leadership (in my opinion). It is my goal to provide the works that have most inspired and guided my implementation of creativity in leadership, describe why the works are seminal in nature, and provided the tangible constructs that I have gained by synthesizing the works into applicable practices.

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The family in NYC. I am the one in the top left :).