Culture Jolt #22 - Invest in a new paradigm, not just a new strategy

Welcome to our Conscious Innovator® process!

Are you ready for a new, insight-provoking “Jolt” … something that challenges conventional thinking about the "right" mindset for being innovative? It's not that the conventional understanding is wrong - just limited.

Jolts wake us up. They emphasize a shift of focus that taps into a deeper, more expansive consciousness. The result can be profound insights into yourself and others that bring out your full, innovative potential, whether in small, daily tasks or major projects. 

Jolt #22: Invest in a new paradigm, not just a new strategy

Joel Barker, who first popularized the power of paradigms in business, is known for his expansive views on the topic:

“A shift in paradigm triggers a cascade of new innovations. Every paradigm ultimately uncovers the problems it cannot solve, thus setting the stage for a paradigm shift. Fundamental change is, by definition, a change in paradigm.”

For decades, CEO’s have named innovation a top priority. Strategies for innovation abound. Innovation is a popular branding and marketing strategy. The global market is flooded with innovation models, processes, tools, techniques, and slogans like “innovate or die.”

And yet, despite this deluge of innovation everywhere, we need to invest in a new paradigm if we’re going to enable conscious innovation across our organizations. Another shiny new strategy for innovation based in an old paradigm for success simply will not get the job done.

One of the most prominent paradigms for innovation today actually emerged over 100 years ago: “specialists and experts.” Its priority goal for innovation is bottom-line results. Only specialists and experts are considered to have valuable ideas, so innovation training, projects, and resources are given to them. Everyone else implements what they come up with.

A more expanded paradigm has been maturing since the 1970s: “high initiative.” Its priority goal for innovation focuses on customer satisfaction. Those with an intrapreneurial spirit are considered to have valuable ideas. Innovation training, projects, and resources are given to those with high initiative to succeed with them.

An even more inclusive paradigm has been growing since the 1990s: “everyone.” The priority goal for innovation is “stakeholder well-being,” and everyone is considered to have valuable ideas. Innovation training, projects and resources are made available to everyone with the anticipation of each person being innovative in their daily work.

While the best of each of these paradigms can take us a long way, it’s time to expand even further to the “consciousness” paradigm of innovation – still in its embryonic phase. Each of the current paradigms operates within the horizontal dimension of life: the dimension we can see, touch, feel, smell, and hear. The consciousness paradigm expands to include the vertical dimension of life, the dimension of spirit, energy, and higher wisdom.

Patricia Aburdene, author of Megatrends 2010 and Conscious Money, tells us:

“We are entering a new economic era in which creativity and the genius of human consciousness are increasingly recognized as the primary factors that generate success and wealth creation. It is the New Economy of Consciousness.”

Paradigm first, strategy second. That’s the conscious way to navigate our paradigm-busting times.

-=-=-=- Now it's your turn -=-=-=-

Being a Conscious Innovator® has a 3 phase cyclical process: become aware, capable, and versatile. Try on this Jolt in your life and work, then take self-reflective time to engage in the process:

-=-=-=- An invitation to join our process and share your insights -=-=-=-

If you haven’t already, we’d love for you to join our process and share your own experiences, while learning from the experiences of others! We appreciate what one person said about the Jolt process itself:

Innovation is a world by itself. It can change lives and help people become more positive. Doing a Jolt is already something! A new habit that promotes innovation and reflection.

It’s totally FREE to participate. To sign up and join us, go to this link and follow the easy directions: https://innovate.vci.global/p/the-conscious-innovator. 

Even if you haven’t participated up to this point, it’s never too late to start the process! It’s like a concise gym workout that provides an insightful “pause that refreshes” and evokes your unique, innovative potential in life and work.