Gratitude Fuels Innovation

In my professional career and life, I have been fortunate to work with, learn from, teach, coach, and mentor more than 30,000 leaders of excellence and innovation in more than 20 countries. From Startups to Global 50 companies, these leaders have delivered billions of dollars for their organizations and immeasurable social value to causes and communities globally.

Several of you have inquired about ongoing coaching and mentorship related to excellence and innovation leadership. With the growth of our community, it has become impractical to do that individually or even in small groups. The obvious solution has always been to write about it. But there is never enough time when you are busy executing. Well, I have been beaten into submission. “Thanks to you” (pun intended), we are launching a series of short articles on excellence and innovation leadership. Call it distance learning and sharing.

A few of the articles will lean on the professional side. Others will be more personal. Successful Excellence & Innovation leadership typically blends and blurs business and life. It also requires a great dose of systems and design thinking, which can be confusing for those who inevitably judge the parts without comprehending the intricate connections that make the whole possible. Ultimately, keep in mind, I am the servant. This is for you. Let’s get on with it…

In this “innovation acceleration” short article series, we’ll share insights and lessons from some of the greatest innovation leaders and organizations globally. These will not be outside-in views, typically gathered by interviewing individuals, employees, and leaders. Instead, we will reveal innovation from the inside out, with practitioners lenses and perspectives on the significant challenges to create and sustain positive change in their complex organizations, communities, markets, or even the world.

We are often asked what separates great people and organizations from most of everyone and everything else. There is not one simple answer to that. Excellence requires the understanding of interdisciplinary, interconnected, layered, seemingly contradictory, and often counter-intuitive principles combined with relentless and near flawless execution. It is an incredible journey, rarely characterized as fun, but deeply rewarding for those fully engaged.

With so many options, what distinctive trait observed on successful innovation leaders should we start with?

Gratitude.

Great, enduring innovation leaders are unequivocally grateful. Their passion, discipline, and resilience are fueled by a deep sense of appreciation for people and/or circumstances in their lives in the past, present, or expected future. They are grateful for the challenge to be overcome. Perhaps some were genetically coded for gratitude while others learned and applied skills to develop it. They all have experienced hardships in their lives, often very significant. They may be expressive about what they are grateful for or quietly introspective. They may not have everything they love but they love everything they have.

Here are three practical gratitude insights learned by working with top innovation leaders:

Be Self Aware and Forgive Yourself

Know your strengths and weaknesses. We are all experts on a few things and idiots about everything else. Great innovation leaders don’t obsess about their weaknesses. They double down on their unique strengths, only addressing value issues, character flaws, and key career derailers. They forgive themselves for imperfections without dwelling on them.

Keep Perspective on Life and Work, Be Thankful

Say “Thank You” more often. These are powerful words when expressed sincerely. Several successful innovators have morning routines and reach out to thank or praise individuals in their networks. They also reflect on their own, often significant, personal and professional hardships. They are empathetic to themselves and others while disproportionately counting their blessings, big and small.

Practice Giving Selflessly

Give to others without expecting anything in return. Innovators admit this is very hard to do but has the greatest potential impact on gratitude levels over time. Most of us “give” or “serve” with some expectation of return, need for acknowledgement or recognition, for something or from someone. Practice giving to others simply because it is the right thing to do.

There is much each one of us can be grateful for: family, friends, faith. Innovation is fueled and accelerated by gratitude. It takes practice.

Sincere THANKS to thousands of excellence and innovation leaders, practitioners, authors, and thought leaders worldwide who have materially and positively shaped my life and work.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

In the words of Newton, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.” You are true Giants to me.

Happy ThanksGiving to all in the USA and around the world!

We learn, improve, and innovate together. Share your perspectives in the comments below. What or who are you grateful for? What helps you be and stay grateful? How does gratitude fuel innovation?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

José Pires serves as Global Excellence & Innovation executive leader and advisor for startups, scaleups, and Fortune 500 companies. His award-winning programs on culture and business transformation, innovation acceleration, leadership development, and strategy execution include more than 30,000 professionals and clients in energy, oil & gas, power generation, telecommunications, technology, finance, banking, insurance, law, healthcare, transportation, infrastructure, electronics, semiconductors, food, manufacturing, education, government and non-profit organizations in more than 20 countries.