A Tale of Innovation

Innovation has become a buzz word, often seen as an organisational value, a core element of doing business and that thing that makes an organisation unique. It sounds good, and who doesn’t want to innovate, or who would say they don’t want to innovate?

The paradox is that there is also an aversion towards it. Afterall, creativity and innovation can be risky business. The mindsets and systems that prohibit the innovation journey can manifest in several ways. The path is not always clear and that makes it tricky. From a lack of understanding of what innovation generally means and looks like, to what it means specifically for a team or organisation, there’s a lot to consider. This is a tale that repeats across private and public sector organisations, politics and communities often leading to procrastination, avoidance, inaction, and stagnation. 

There’s no place like home

A recent visit to the enchanting Fairytales exhibition at Queensland’s flagship Gallery of Modern Art stirred my imagination. The provenance of fairytales for helping us make sense of the world is well known. The metaphors and archetypal stories woven throughout the exhibition got me thinking about and re-imagining the entrepreneurial voyage we take in pursuit of innovation, or the pull of the familiar, to click our heels, and return to the safe place from which we started. There’s no place like home.

Image: Cathryn Lloyd

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”

Into the Wood

Once upon a time, in a land not that far away, with their hearts full of fear and excitement, a merry band of pioneers, decided to venture into the woods. In that magical moment, they shifted from a place of certainty into an unknown world.

Questions Questions

There were so many questions left unanswered. ‘Are we doing the right thing’ ‘How do we know’, ‘Whose suggestion was this’? For a while they stood in silence wondering what next. “We can never know for sure, there are no guarantees”, said one, “what we do know is that we can’t keep doing what we have always done, it’s time to break the spell that keeps us doing the same things and expecting a different outcome”. They were all too aware of what that meant for their future.

It was time to do things differently, and yet the only way forward was to depart from their safe comfortable surroundings into a turbulent uncertain future. It took all their courage and curiosity to leave what was so familiar and cross the threshold into a liminal space. 

Ahead, they could see the bumpy landscape and unclear paths that would have to be traversed. It looked harder and more foreboding than they had anticipated. Was it too late to turn back? Yet, while daunting and risky, they were excited to be embarking on a new adventure. There were mixed feelings, waves of doubt washed over them, and confidence in their decision to venture forth was complicated and shaky. Some of the crew were more ready and willing to proceed than others. 

They knew the woods could be a daunting place. Afterall, they had heard stories of people trying to get through the woods. Some succeeding, others less so and some not making it at all. They had also heard stories from the brave ones, who had stepped into an unfamiliar landscape, who had taken wrong paths and made mistakes, and yet had made it through the woods and found themselves in a new, different, and better future. .

Image: Cathryn Lloyd

A World of Possibilities

Keep going the brave ones told them. The woods are full of possibility. You may not step onto the right path immediately but don’t be put off. The paths are not always clear, and you must make your own. Remember change, creating new opportunities, finding novel solutions, and problem solving takes time, commitment, courage, and effort. 

Deep down they knew they had to find their way through. A new future was calling. But how? They hovered at the edge of the woods in anticipation.

In the quiet they could hear the creak of the trees, the rustling leaves, and unfamiliar sounds. It was a place they had not visited together before.

And then a whisper, ‘we need to be curious’, ‘yes and’ said a louder voice, ‘and use our imagination’ the voices got louder, ‘yes and, experiment’, ‘yes and, be brave, just take the next step’ ‘and be mindful as we go’.

And so, with newfound excitement, determination, and sense of purpose they set off, together, into the woods, transitioning from the known to the unknown.

Along the way they created and ventured along new paths, sometimes alone and at times with others. Sometimes the paths took them far off track, leading them into and down rabbit holes. At times those rabbit holes were worth the visit, and other times, well, that seemed a waste of time. 

They were disorientated, turned upside down by the tumult of leaving their safe familiar surrounds. Navigating the complex and confusing territory was taxing, challenging, disruptive and energising.

Image: Cathryn Lloyd

If only they had a magic wand…

After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at a clearing. The light was different, and they could see more clearly. They began to focus on how good it felt to be in a different part of the woods and to see things differently. They were uplifted and inspired to keep going. While the journey tested their old ways of thinking and being, there were breakthroughs, as their new environment began to make more sense. 

Gaining confidence with each other and their new surroundings, the comradery of the merry band grew, even when they stumbled and took a wrong turn. They began to feel a sense of wonder and curiosity that they had not experienced before as they discovered new ways of being and experimented with different ideas, taking little bets and risks along the way.

The Heart of the Woods

The woods continued to open and become more spacious, or maybe it was their minds, as they found a new appreciation for their situation. The once ominous trees and difficult paths took on new meaning. Ahead they could see a way through. Navigating the unfamiliar had taken courage, time, collaboration and a belief in the choices and decisions they had made together. In the heart of the woods, they discovered new paths, possibilities, and associations they had not seen before. They had become stronger, more resilient and more connected. The journey had taught them valuable lessons and provided profound insights. 

In navigating their way into and out of the woods of innovation they realised that the future was not in hands of a magic wand or in retreating to where they had started from. They knew it was held in their hands, hearts, and their creativity. In that moment they knew they would always be able to find ways to navigate the challenging and uncertain times ahead. 

“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”

TS Eliot

Maverick Minds helps people to shift their thinking, connect and create, learn and innovate in complex and changing environments. We love partnering and working creatively with our clients. Get in touch to find out how Maverick Minds coaching, and facilitation services can help you capitalise on your creativity and embrace innovation in your team and organisation.

www.maverickminds.com.au