Necessity Drives Innovation

In business as in life, it’s important to recognize that necessity drives innovation. The “need” to do things better, faster, and more efficiently forces quality leaders to review current processes and continuously support the development of new methods, practices, and technologies to keep up with today’s rapidly changing world. Ignoring the need for change suffocates the “spirit of innovation” and places your team in “catch up mode” rather than in an industry leading position. Keep in mind, it’s always better to be in the lead with your competition chasing you.       

Looking back, many of the world's greatest inventions and innovations have been born out of a need or problem that had to be solved. The automobile was invented to provide a faster and more efficient way to travel. Similarly, the telephone was invented because people needed a way to communicate efficiently over long distances. The list goes on and on. Electricity was developed to generate a new and more efficient source of power. The light bulb was developed to safely eliminate darkness. The internet was developed to accelerate information transfer and access.  

With all this said, a quality leader must also exhibit a degree of patience, within reason, when supporting innovation. Very often creative minds require time to develop. As a leader you should always communicate realistic timelines to foster positive change and recognize innovative team members. This will go a long way towards building morale and stabilizing high turnover. Creating new and innovative processes requires thought, collaboration, and honesty. The "shadow you cast" as a leader must exhibit these traits if you wish to develop an innovative and talented team.   

I hope this short article forces you to think about your leadership style. Are you supporting innovation? Are you challenging your team members to seek out creative ways to solve problems and discuss their thoughts with the entire team? Remember, without “necessity”, creative minds would never be allowed to flourish and attain their true potential.

 All the best in 2023! -MC