Since ‘tis nature’s law to change, constancy alone is strange.
For nearly 15 years, I have been lucky enough to be invited to visit companies, big and small, all over the world. I’ve seen incredible innovators and I have seen people frustrated by lack of innovation.
As an entrepreneur, my entire life is spent innovating. You try something and, if it works, then pour in as much energy as you can to make it amazing. If it doesn’t, then move on. Companies talk about ‘agile’ ways of working – I am always agile. Agile is my life, not something I go on a course to learn.
My company is small and I fully appreciate that the bigger you are, the tougher it is to change. In my travels to places like China, you get a strong sense that if you are going to organise a society with 2 billion people, you need to have some organisation, some process and control. You cannot just go ‘agile’ on that.
For me, the most important thing an organisation needs to do is to find a balance; between people and process, between loose and tight, between agile and waterfall. And the trick to this is creating a culture of change. For me, it is this culture that is the hardest battle for management to win.
Here are some things that help me with that balance. I hope they help you.
Firstly, sitting on my desk is a slide (pictured above left) that reminds me of my job as a leader. It reminds me that my job is to create Context, not Control. Context is strategy, metrics, assumptions, objectives, clearly-defined roles, knowledge of stakes and transparency around decision making. This comes as an alternative to Control, which is top-down decision making, management approval, committees, planning and process valued more than results.
Secondly, I want to share with you the eight themes from the 1982 book, In Search of Excellence. The book might be old and many of their exemplar companies have since fallen from grace, but the themes will live with you and help you in your change:
Finally, I think you should watch, at least once a quarter (although once a week is also good) the video below. It is Steve Jobs giving the commencement address at Stanford.
Here are some of the key words from that speech, although it’s mostly genius.
Innovation and change are tough. Managing change is even tougher, but it is essential if you want to build a legacy.
What is a legacy? It is the change you have created in the world. If you want to create a legacy, you have to create a change.
Ian Hughes is speaking at the forthcoming MINT Global in Amsterdam (April 3-4, 2017): a conference that is unlike any other; offering delegates an unforgettable experience as well as top-level insight into the very latest marketing expertise. Places are limited, so book your seat now at this unique event and don’t miss the boat (which is a hefty clue about that ‘unforgettable experience’)!
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