We don't need your money, we want #change.

Same as it ever was...same as it ever was...same as it ever was.... - Talking Heads

It's amazing how much money companies spend to solve a problem. Sometimes a problem is simple and can be bought-out, like hiring someone to fill a gap. But most of the time, and particularly far-reaching problems require change rather than just buying out the problem.

Change is normal and it is natural. It breathes new life into old habits and ideas. Changing to improve something is innovation, but many organizations are unable or unwilling to innovate. This eventually manifests into some sort of problem, just look at Kodak. If, in the 90's, I would have predicted Kodak would go bankrupt people would have thought I was drunk. But disruption is more rampant than ever and it's good.

Change is not merely necessary to life — it is life. - Alvin Toffler

Change and innovation in an organization can only be encouraged and supported not enforced or coerced. This requires a certain amount of awareness, a need for change. We don't have to know where we will end up exactly, only that we need to go on a journey. We benefit from the journey through innovation as much as the destination. So, what are some habits that help drive successful innovation-minded change and avoid being disrupted? Consider this:

1. Awareness - We have a feeling or desire for an improvement. It is more enthusiasm than policy or dogma. This awareness creates optimism around change rather than fear and #futureshock.

2. Leadership - Innovation needs a vision, one that is constantly repeated, unbiased, and inclusive. Disruption loves to feed on organizations filled with self-interested bureaucrats.

3. Service oriented - The improvement we seek makes things better for our customers, community, and our team, not simply to give the appearance of progress to shareholders or executive self-interest.

4. Patience - Change can only be encouraged and supported not enforced or coerced. Be prepared for surprises.

5. Persistence - Although change takes time, it needs to be constantly addressed. Like losing weight, you must exercise and eat right everyday to see progress. The same goes for innovation. To reach your goal you must stay in the program constantly and not give up.

6. Personal Investment - This does not imply pouring money into something, but rather, having a stake in the outcome. Everyone must have a stake.

7. Listen - Change is new for everyone so you need to listen to participants. Their input, ideas, concerns, advice, and encouragement.

8. Agility - Modern project approaches like Scrum are built to support innovation. Throw away your gantt charts and spreadsheets. Gantt charts were developed over 100 years ago and used in World War I, not exactly the epitome of efficient strategy and execution.

All of these habits have more to do with our attitude and head-space than with buying our way out of a problem. And that is often the issue with business failures. The delusion that money will make a problem disappear by buying a new software tool or hiring another row of managers. It's like buying smaller pants hoping they will help you lose weight. Innovation is a process, not a thing. The solution exists not in what you buy but in what you do. You may require money to capitalize an innovation process, but you cannot buy innovation.

And this is really the crux of the problem...managers who lack innovation leadership find it easier to spend money (because it's not theirs anyway) then to risk their [perceived] position or reputation in trying to create real change. So next time you want to improve your business and build value through innovation remember what I tell my clients..."we don't need your money, we want change".