Flow - Innovation - Leadership - NATO: No Way Out Episode Backstory

I recently had an incredible discussion with Brigadier General Imre Porkolab on the latest episode of No Way Out. We delved into leading in complexity, exploring how innovation and agility are crucial not just for NATO, but also for business leaders in our VUCA world.

Before I share some details of the episode, I would like to share the backstory to this podcast. Imre and I first met during the OODA-Cynefin exploration that Dave Snowden I set up in Quantico, VA back in 2019. Since then, Imre's influence on my career has been immense. After the OODA-Cynefin exploratory, Imre invited me, Dave Snowden, and other complexity and “Design Thinkers” to Budapest, Hungary to participate in a March 2020 Innovation Conference. ?While in Budapest, Imre arranged it so I could deliver my TEDx talk, Design for Flow. What made this TEDx on flow special is that Mihaly Csikszentmihaly, the “Father of Flow, is Hungarian.

Since then, Imre has leveraged The Flow System with the help of Nigel Thurlow and John Turner ???? ???? to develop the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) Leadership Academy. Now, as a Brigadier General serving in the Hungarian Ministry of Defence, he's been instrumental in driving defense innovation and sits on the Board of Directors for NATO’s Defense Innovation Accelerator (DIANA).

Here are some major takeaways from our conversation on No Way Out:

1??? The military and civilian sectors have a lot to learn from each other when it comes to innovation and dealing with uncertainty. We highlight that the problem sets they face are remarkably similar in terms of the VUCA nature of our world.

2??? Technology plays a vital role, but it's important to remember that it's ultimately a human issue, not just a technological one. The focus should be on how to adopt and use technology effectively, especially in the context of military operations.

3??? DIANA, the NATO innovation organization Imre is involved with, is doing some amazing work in engaging partners in Europe and North America. They provide support, education, and access to test sites and centers for technology validation and development. This is truly helping smaller organizations thrive and accelerating the flow of innovation.

4?? Design thinking, or shall we say complexity thinking, is absolutely crucial in military innovation. By creating adaptive spaces for experimentation and involving military operators, end-users, and developers from the get-go, innovative solutions can emerge that traditional planning systems might have missed.

5?? Imre's experience teaching practical leadership skills through the MCC academy is inspiring. Soft skills, resilience, and real-life application are all crucial components of leadership education, especially for young leaders preparing to take on leadership positions.

I couldn't be more excited about the insights and perspectives Imre brought to the table. If you're interested in building up your confidence in complexity, this episode is a must-listen. And don't worry, we've got plenty more mind-expanding conversations lined up for you on No Way Out.

Stay curious, leverage diverse intelligence, and keep amplifying your successes! Innovation is about improving your OODA loop!

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