4 Mindsets to Grow Through Innovation

We’re excited at Connective Intelligence to sponsor an organization where members focus on growth through innovation.

While researching organizational systems for my doctoral thesis, I developed a method of assessing an organization’s mindset to quantify and improve its ability to grow through innovation and adaptive change.

Importantly, an organization’s mindset is not just a reflection of how employees think, but how the organization directs energy and resources to execute its strategy and achieve its purpose.

I hope you enjoy this excerpt from an article I wrote for BOSS Magazine that introduces the importance of measuring an organization’s mindset.

Dr. Brett Richards

4 Mindsets to Grow Through Innovation

The Dominant Mindset

An organization’s dominant mindset matters because it shapes what data the organization pays attention to and how it goes about the process of innovation. The dominant mindset will reflect core values and unique identity and purpose. For example, whether the organization has a competitive spirit that strives for profits, and/or an entrepreneurial spirit that strives for new ideas and growth.

Imaginative Mindset: Create the Future

The ability of leaders, teams, and organizations to imagine is essential to innovation. Curiosity, a thirst for inspiration, and a belief in the power of possibility all fuel the search to discover something new. The imagine mindset is crucial for all types of innovation whether incremental, evolutionary or revolutionary. As such, this mindset activates creative thinking to improve internal processes, as well as new products and services that increase value for customers and other external stakeholders.

Resolve Mindset: Make it Happen

The ability to resolve internally and externally driven challenges along the innovation path is critical to transforming and adapting new ideas into tangible value for the organization.   The focus of a resolve mindset is such that knowledge and understanding are gained through practical experience and continuous learning.

Analyze Mindset: Data-driven Knowledge

The ability to analyze information, knowledge and ideas efficiently is a critical capability for effective innovation and change. The focus of the analyze mindset is such that it seeks to build ideas, concepts, and theories from the ground up. The most effective decisions are based on solid evidence and facts.

Align Mindset: Shared Purpose

The ability of leaders to align an organization’s values and strategic vision with the change and/or innovation agenda is critical for success. Given that people are the lifeblood of change and innovation, emotional commitment is required to achieve positive results. Identifying the organization’s mindset, and putting reliable metrics around it, are important first steps to accelerate organizational growth, performance and positive results. Having the right mindset can make all the difference in the world.