Are You Innovative Enough To Succeed?

Every February vast numbers of people hit the classic six-week trough and give up on their New Year resolutions. Developing new habits, changing your way of working, or entering a new market all require effort, persistence, and the ability to adapt when things aren’t working.

Consider the story of a man who faced many setbacks. At 22, he lost his job. The next year, he ran for office but lost. Two years later, he started a business, but it failed, and he ended up in debt. After clearing his debts, he tried politics again, and this time he succeeded, becoming elected at just 25. But tragedy struck when his fiancée died, and he was reported to have a nervous breakdown, though this may have been exaggerated. He then lost bids to become House Speaker and later failed to win a seat in Congress.

For the next ten years, he faced more defeats, including failed Senate and Vice Presidential runs. Despite these setbacks, at 51, he finally became the President of the United States, later becoming one of the most respected presidents in American history.

That man was Abraham Lincoln. His story shows incredible persistence and an ability to learn and adapt. Lincoln didn’t give up; instead, he changed his approach until he succeeded—not only in becoming president but also in ending slavery, a deeply entrenched issue of his time.

A Fine Balance

Taking an innovative approach is a fine balance. As the New Year begins, it’s a good time to assess your own persistence. Are you determined enough to push through tough obstacles? It’s also important to consider how open you are to trying new things, especially if your current methods aren’t giving you the results you want.

The key to success is simple: successful people make more mistakes than most. But they don’t let mistakes stop them. Instead, they learn from them, keep going, and continuously adapt and experiment with new ways of doing things.

The Paradox Of Focused Innovation

Looking at the paradox of innovation, it’s clear that a balanced approach is key. You need both Persistence and Experimentation to succeed. Being Inventive means experimenting with different methods while staying focused on your goal. This balance of high persistence and high experimentation leads to creative success.

However, without balance, we can fall into traps. One problem is Stubborn Persistence, where we hold onto old methods too long, resisting change. This can lead to tunnel vision and missed opportunities. Many companies have failed because they stubbornly stuck to outdated strategies while the world around them changed. Sticking with the familiar feels easier, but it’s important to recognise when it’s time to adapt. Admitting when you’re wrong and changing direction takes courage, but it’s essential for success.

On the other hand, too much Experimenting without following through can also cause problems. This is the trait of Non-finishing, where we jump from one new idea to the next without completing anything. Many entrepreneurs fall into this trap, trying the latest trend but abandoning it when they don’t see immediate results. This can frustrate managers, who know that real change takes time and consistency.

A third imbalance is becoming Unresourceful, where a lack of persistence and unwillingness to try new things can hold us back. This often happens in environments full of uncertainty and change (VUCA). If you find yourself stuck, getting help from an outside perspective can help introduce new ideas and motivation.

Everyone has different strengths and enjoys different aspects of work. Do you enjoy persistence or experimentation more? Are you driven to finish what you start, or do you get excited about new ideas? The key is finding a balance between both.

As the year goes on, it’s a good idea to regularly assess how you’re approaching your goals and New Year resolutions. If you are interested in exploring where you and your managers stand on this Paradox and the eleven other Paradoxes in the assessment please contact us at info@talent4performance.co.uk

Check out the short 150-second video about this paradox on LinkedIn:

The Mindset of Innovation – do you have what it takes?

Remember, especially as you consider innovation . . . stay curious!

David Klaasen

©David Klaasen – August 2016