Innovation will move unemcumbered throughout an organization if the concept is imbedded
in the culture. The culture has to suppport the business and vision and be people-positive.
Innovation encourages risks. It supports failure. It rewards creativity. It is an ongoing process that everyone is encouraged to participate in. It doesn’t just come from the R & D group or just from the CEO.
Southwest Airlines is a great example of a company with a clear vision, who understands their business – mass transportation, and a culture that engages employees and loyal customers to be a part of the innovative process.
I am always fascinated by successful organizations whose CEO sets an example for self improvement, change and innovation. They are not just focused on their business 70 hours a week. They seek a deeper knowledge of the world which translates into more risk taking, innovative thoughts and personal satisfaction.
The Wall Street Journal reported that the CEO of Deutsche Bank spent a week of his vacation recently studying Spanish six hours a day. It was an intense immersion course. He already speaks English, French and Italian as well as his native German.
Another Fortune 500 CEO each year takes his family to upstate New York to the Chautauqua Institute to study and participate in the arts and other forms of learning. You never know where your next idea may come from….and often it results in innovation.
What about your organization? How is innovation a part of your company culture? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
Howard Putnam is a speaker on leadership, innovation, transformation, culture and customer service, and ethics. He is the former CEO of the highly successful Southwest Airlines and the first CEO to take a major airline, Braniff International, into, through and out of Chapter 11, getting it flying again in less than two years.
