Greetings from Singapore, where I have been attending the
annual Executive MBA Conference with other leaders from across the globe who
run these programs at various universities.
This is always a mentally stimulating meeting in which thought leaders
from top corporations and universities share what they believe today’s – and tomorrow’s
– executives need to thrive in our ever-changing world.
One continuing theme I heard from many speakers – and that
we all know is true – is the need for organization’s today to be continually
innovative and creative. But how do we
do that?
A number of speakers stressed the importance of diversity
and divergent thinking among leadership teams as a way to fuel innovation. Today’s leaders need to:
“Be Flexible”
“Value Differences.
Believe that difference is good.”
“Influence others without using authority.”
“Foster a culture where people feel free to speak their mind.”
One speaker said “Don’t allow hierarchy to squash innovation.”
All of this is easier said than done. It means that you, as a leader, need to proactively
recruit people into your organization and onto your senior team who think
differently than you do. It will be
uncomfortable and require you to work through conflicting viewpoints.
It would be a lot easier to hang out with people who pretty
much think the same way you do. But if
you do that, you are unlikely to continually produce innovative, breakthrough
ideas.
Leveraging the divergent views and talents of others is more
important to making a Mission Impact
than ever before.
For more ideas on how you can lead
breakthroughs in your organization, follow this blog and check out my web site
at www.SheehanNonprofitConsulting.com
You will find free resources you can download, including a Breakthrough
Strategy Workbook that you can download at no cost. You can also check out my book, Mission
Impact: Breakthrough Strategies for
Nonprofits, and buy it if you are interested.
And you can follow Sheehan Nonprofit Consulting on Facebook.
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