When folks feel unsafe or uncertain, our reptilian brain kicks in and we have to fight the urge to “fight, flight, freeze”. Today, most of us are experiencing those feelings outside of work as well, as economic and global instability are dominating every form of media and communication.
When our livelihood is at stake, we need to see it to believe it. Leaders need to honestly reflect on what is behind the belief that innovation is risky and mistakes are “failures” that will get you fired.
Google is always touted as the posterchild for trying things for one or two quarters, “failing fast” and then moving folks to the next innovative project team to see if the next one will work.
Not every company needs to operate this way, but to change the culture, innovation projects and pilots need to be happening, visible and celebrated – no matter the outcome.
What other success metrics are possible beyond sales and revenues? Can it be shaving days off production? A new way to communicate with customers? New career paths for individual contributors in lateral organizations?
Leaders earn influence and followers based on their “say/do ratio”. People need to see that. They may also want a written guarantee of employment to take the innovation challenge! Do it! It will change the culture and prove this isn’t just the ‘flavor of the month’.
Be sure the Executive Team AND the Board are behind this. Otherwise, the best-intentioned efforts of any one area will fail. Without that support from above, employees are wise to be skeptical!
Hope this helps –
Elene
