The 4 Enabling Disciplines
DexterityDynamism
Discourse
Discovery
What is innovation? …AND how can we better foster innovation in our organizations? A recent trip in the Bavarian countryside provided me with a wonderfully simple example of what innovation is and what it takes to make it happen. As I was driving back to Munich after an extended business trip in the north of Germany, I stopped for dinner at a charming and modestly simple local restaurant in the town of Amerdingen. The weather was warm enough on this early autumn day to permit sitting outside on the terrace. Meticulously taken care of was the garden where benches invited [...]
The World as Network Our world is organized on the principle of networks. Everywhere we look, networks can be discovered. It was the emerging new science of ecology in the early 20th century which observed that species were linked together through their feeding relations with each other (aka food chains). Subsequently, it was understood that these links are an integral part of a network known as the food web which connects all species in an eco-system with one another. This food web acts as a a kind of natural “circular economy” in which even the waste of one species is [...]
Feedback loops are often an untapped resource to enhance creativity and innovation in companies. Astute organizations recognize the value and use of feedback loops to stimulate learning and innovation at all levels. Why? Feedback loops lay down the foundation for an organizational mindset which is favorable for scalable learning and innovation throughout the organization. Through the cultivation of an environment which intentionally promotes the use of feedback loops, an organization benefits from the wisdom of employees which is harvested to reap productive insights for the business. Definition of Feedback: Information about reactions to a product, a person's performance of a [...]
A unique Global Culture Survey which involved 3,200 management leaders around the globe was just released. Managers responded to questions about the influence of culture on business success. The Katzenbach Center, an institution which is part of the accounting firm Price Waterhouse Coopers carried out this annual Global Culture Survey. There are many key takeaways from the results of the survey. One in particular really got my attention: "66% of the C-Suite and board members surveyed said that culture is MORE important to performance than the organization's strategy or operating model." This assessment is supported by more detailed data. Respondents were [...]
The greatest challenge for current leaders throughout any organization is to continuously learn and adapt to the rapidly changing business environment. Their ability to do so defines not only their capacity but also the quality of their ability to lead others. But how do leaders come up with the time to cultivate their commitment for continuous learning and motivate colleagues during their busy work schedule? How can they be motivated to welcome curiosity and experimentation as a fundamental approach to their daily business? To date the classical paradigm of leadership development has been to host multi-day workshops off-site. Why not [...]
In order to tell thought-provoking stories about the power of networks, I would like to share notable examples of the impact which network leaders can have in their organizations. I cannot think of a better example to start this series of NETWORK HEROES than Dee Hock. Dee Hock was a manager at a local bank in Washington state (USA). This bank had been franchised by the Bank of America to issue its credit card which at the time was called the “BankAmericard”. Dee Hock convinced Bank of America to give up its ownership and control on their BankAmericard credit card [...]
The International Leadership Association (ILA) hosted the FUTURE FORWARD Leadership Summit in Boulder, Colorado to explore the future of leadership. In 2024, the ILA marked its 25th anniversary as the largest global organization dedicated to leadership studies. I am proud to have been a member of this outstand organization since 2001 and it was a privilege to serve on the board for eight years. The FUTURE FORWARD Leadership Summit brought both scholars and practitioners from around the world together. These leadership professionals reflected on the evolution of leadership over the past 25 years and explore its trajectory for the next [...]
Cultivating Network Cooperation with Leadership Reconnaissance The design of most leadership development programs has traditionally been utilized to provide a space and opportunity for individuals to reflect upon their leadership strengths and weaknesses away from day-to-day business pressures. Typically the individuals who attend such leadership development sessions are pre-selected based upon their previous performance and perceived future promise to the organization. By that as it may, the cutting-edge leadership paradigm has another focus on the level of the network through Network Leadership . Fostering such a novel approach to leadership from the network perspective requires fundamental shifts from the long-established [...]
This is a powerful question. It took me unawares. It’s the kind of question which you can’t let go of very easily. It was the story which was told to illustrate this question which really got me thinking. An artist friend started to look at his work and noticed that it was becoming just “more of the same”. This is not a good place for any artist to find him or herself. The artist decided to throw absolutely everything out of his studio and disrupt himself completely. He even repainted his studio white – just like a blank canvas. This [...]
Network Leadership is decisive to ensure AI success As we stand on the brink of the Age of Intelligence, a new paradigm of leadership is emerging. It is one that mirrors the transformative shifts of the past. Just as the transition to electricity revolutionized industries and required a new breed of leaders, the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) demands a fresh approach to guiding organizations. But what does this new leadership look like? AI offers incredible potential by processing vast amounts of data and revealing insights that would be impossible for humans to uncover alone. Yet, despite massive investments, a [...]
NEZWORK CONNECTIONS is an innovative approach to employee development The use of NETWORK CONNECTIONS enhances a company’s development programs in a myriad of ways. At the same time it also improves organizational effectiveness. Any business or organization can achieve the following goals through the use of NETWORK CONNECTIONS by: 1. Providing development opportunities for KMUs or Family-owned companies 2. Enhancing existing development programs 3. Supporting the effectiveness of existing competency models 4. Promoting inter-organizational networking 5. Bolstering change initiatives and 6. Turbo-charging internal communications Your employees can use NETWORK CONNECTIONS to work towards these goals either face-to-face on-site in your [...]
Inspiration from scholars in the field Ensemble Enabler is continually exploring new approaches to capture the wisdom of the crowd to support strategic initiatives, foster creativity and encourage innovation. Our experience has demonstrated that a key factor in this process is the intentional use of dialogue and conversation. A broad spectrum of scholars have explored the conceptual underpinnings which make Peer-to-Peer Networking an effective process. We would like to share a compact selection of authors who have informed our thinking on the value and impact of its use in organizations: Lifelong Learning through conversations Coaching Ourselves© is a process for [...]
In the wheat growing areas of the world, grain is stored in large towers known as silos. Each silo rises high into the sky, independent of the other silos. Multiple silos are usually required. This colorful metaphor that has become commonplace to describe separation and lack of coordination in organizations and in society which is not necessarily understood across the entire world. Silos are not to be found in rice based economies. When in 2005 the newly appointed CEO to Sony – Howard Stringer (an Englishman who had led Sony’s North American operations) – made his first strategy speech in [...]
New leadership skills and sensibilities are essential for a rapidly complex and changing business environment. The growing need for agility has led to the realization that leadership is a team sport which requires the co-ordination and collaboration of many leaders. Moreover, the importance of leadership lies not only at the level of a team, but increasingly at the level of the network. With information flowing at unprecedented speed, no single person can possess a complete overview of the current state of affairs in a business. Due to an environment characterized by complexity and rapidity, it is crucial for leaders to [...]
The challenges of the digital revolution are compelling us to review our understanding of what comprises good leadership. In the not too distant past, one of middle managers’ main responsibilities was the transfer of information throughout the organization. Today much of that information is available at a click of a button. In the not too distant past, most of the information was to be found at the top of the organization. Today it is everywhere throughout the organization and it is quite likely that key strategic information does not necessarily reside in the C-Suite. As a matter of fact, in [...]
