This is the third in my mini-series on creating new value, also known as innovation. The first post took a deep dive into the concept of value—what it is and how it should be core to the existence of every organization—especially for-profit organizations.
The second post took a deep dive into into the first of two key elements necessary to be most effective at creating new value. The first element is having a proven process. The process we teach is nothing special and pretty generic when compared to other innovation processes.
Today’s final post dives into the second of the key elements, which is exploring what kind of person is especially suited to creating new value. When we teach this we explore the roots of The DoKnowBe Tree. Stop for a moment and think about what roots might give one person an unfair advantage over another in creating new value.
The BE Roots: Beliefs
What core beliefs might someone have that would give that person an advantage over others without those core beliefs? Here are some examples:
- A belief that things can, and should, always get better.
- A belief that new concepts that could bring great value constantly surround us.
- A belief that problems are just opportunities in disguise.
- A belief that failure is a great teacher and doesn’t need to be avoided at great costs.
- A belief that being risk-averse is very risky.
I suspect there are several more examples you could name.
The BE Roots: Values
What core values might someone have that would create an advantage over others in creating new value? Here are some examples:
- Someone who cares for others and wants to do good things for them and for the world.
- Someone who is curious about what could be and seeks to explore ideas and options.
- Someone who values new things, whether they are proven or not.
- Someone who values learning, however it may happen (even through failure).
- Someone who values differing perspectives on common things.
- Someone who values money and sees innovation as a way to build wealth.
I suspect there are several more examples you could name.
The BE Roots: Passions
What core passions might someone have that would create an advantage over others in creating new value? Here are some examples:
- A passion for trying new things and learning what comes from them.
- A passion for creating new things and new ways to do things.
- A passion for solving problems and finding creative ways to realize the opportunities those problems really are.
- A passion for exploring the unknown.
- A passion for improving the lives of others (and their own).
Again, I suspect there are several more examples you could name.
The BE Roots: Gifts and Voids
What core gifts and voids might someone have that would create an advantage over others? Here are some examples:
- The gift of creativity.
- The gift of empathy, which helps them understand the needs of others.
- The ability to see things that no one else seems to see until they are pointed out. Visionaries often have this kind of ability to see what is right in front of all of us, but most of us can’t see it. Once pointed out, we say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” The same is true for many comedians.
- The ability to make connections across very different arenas—like how water flows and how digital data flows; or how an engine works, which might give a new kind of insight into how the body works.
- Being naturally weak at something, which creates a need that they then solve for themselves but also can help others. An example might be a chair that helps people get up, or an organizational system created by someone with a void in this area.
- The ability to communicate ideas effectively. This is often done through visual means, like sketching, or through effective language and stories.
And of course, I’m sure there are several more examples you could name.
The BE Roots: Wiring
Finally, what core wiring might someone have that would give them an advantage over others when creating new value? This is trickier for me. I’m not sure that one type of wiring (D, I, S, C, or some combination of those) is any better than another for creating new value. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of the core styles. How each type of person would go about creating new value would be different, but I’m not convinced that any one style or combination of styles would be more innovative than others. What do you think?
In summary, here is the gist of this short series on creating new value: Bringing real value to the world is a worthy endeavor. Learning to bring new value is what innovation is. This is done through a process that will make anyone a more effective innovator. The best innovators have some unique advantages found in their DoKnowBe roots.
I hope you found this interesting and even helpful. We certainly hope our teaching on this will unlock some innovation in our participants, thus bringing greater value to the world! Let us know if you have any thoughts that might effect how we teach this to new cohorts of LEAD 24/7.
In the meantime, be great this week!
Rodg
PS: LEAD 365 is becoming LEAD 24/7. You’ll see us using the new name in these blog posts going forward.
Image by byzantiumbooks. Used under CC by 2.0 license
Recent Comments