INNOVATION starts with “i”

P E R S O N A L T R A N S F O R M AT I O NA S M E A N S T O C R E A T I N G A

C U LT U R E O F I N N O V AT I O N

INNOVATION

means:

to bring in

something new

INNOVATION requires a field to move into

Most of us are too full of ideas and notions, and our organizations are full of guidelines (written and unwritten) about “how things are done (around here).”

There is rarely room for innovation to occur, to take hold inside of us, and surely not within our organizations.

If your cup is full, you must empty it.

Hence, the first step in allowing for innovation to occur is to create space, a field for it to flow into

Innovation is not a thing.

Innovation starts with “i”

– with the individual.

Each individual is responsible for innovation and for creating a culture of innovation.

Each individual holds a field that will allow for certain ideas and behaviors to emerge – or not.

You can change your actions to bring about new results. But that will only get you so far.

Some results will be out of reach until you shift who “i” is as an observer – in turn making available new actions.

To bring in something new, the observer has to shift.

Transformation starts with a letting go of who “i” currently is, for who “i” could become.

Change is gradual and continuous. To get from point A to point F, change will move through B, C, D, E .

Transformation jumps, is discrete.

Transformation will force us to cease to exist in point A before (hopefully) appearing anew in point F.

Transformation is akin to a death experience

Transformation is a requirement if we wish to keep up with the exponential changes occurring around us.

“An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential, contrary to the common-sense ‘intuitive linear’ view. So we won’t experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century — it will be more like 20,000 years of progress…” – Ray Kurzweil

By allowing ourselves to die and be born anew, by creating openness for innovation in ourselves – we create openness for innovation in that which we consider “other”.

The etymological roots of leadership hint towards this: it’s meaning was to go forth, to cross a threshold, but also to die.

Experience occurs as a result of an interference patternbetween “i” and “I” inside ourselves, and between “i” and “other” or “i” and “Other” outside of ourselves.

“I” “Other”

“other”“i”Ordinary World

Extra-ordinary World

Internal External

Ordinary Self

Highest Potential

Reality

Numinous

Innovation happens in the individual first. And then in relation between two individuals, and then between more than two individuals – at which point it is beginning to become part of a culture of innovation within the larger context, e.g. within an organization.

We cannot force innovation. We can immerse ourselves in a subject matter, and then allow ourselves to let go of who we think we are, let go of “i” and seek to connect with “I”, our highest potential.

By means of doing so, we expand the field we are capable capable of holding, and allow for something new to enter, for a “Eureka” moment to occur.

We then need to find the “others”, those also having made or willing to make the jump. When we do, we can begin to create a stronger and stronger field inside of our organization, and eventually hit critical mass, changing “how we do things around here”, and creating a wholly new culture, a culture of innovation.

READ THE FULL VERSION AT:

http://philiphorvath.com/innovation-starts/