Culture Jolt #29 - Grow ecosystems, not silos

Welcome to our Conscious Innovator® process!

Are you ready for a new, insight-provoking “Jolt” … something designed to “rearrange your molecules” as it elicits your unique, innovative potential in life and work?

Jolts wake us up. They spur new self-awareness, new capabilities and values, and new actions. Paradoxically, we don’t learn from each Jolt – rather, each Jolt “learns us”! That is, a Jolt sits in the background of our consciousness and then prompts new insights and energy over time. 

Jolt #29: Grow ecosystems, not silos

What can the Amazon Rain Forest teach us about healthy ecosystems where conscious innovation naturally thrives? It’s one of the most biodiverse places on earth, where over 3 million species have evolved and flourished in 8 countries. That diversity of life engenders abundant growth and resilience as it manifests a natural ebb and flow of creation, nurturance, and dissolution.

What can the 5 “Blue Zones” around the world teach us about vibrant ecosystems for conscious innovation? In places like Nicoya, Costa Rica, and Ikaria, Greece, people consistently live to be over 100 years old. These communities thrive on a bounty of people who continuously renew and replenish themselves and their resources by living their life purposes, de-stressing in daily life, eating nutritiously, and forming strong family and social circles.

What can John Cramer, a concert violinist and business consultant, teach us about harmonious, innovative ecosystems? Employing his expertise in musical structure, spontaneity, and discipline, John teaches “virtuosity” to business professionals… where virtuosity occurs at the intersection of respecting rules and traditions, taking novel and acceptable risks, and executing with great skill.

Even with these models to follow, it may not seem easy to shift from ‘silo’ habits to ‘ecosystem’ habits, where work becomes an inspirational journey for expanding knowledge, co-creating solutions, and building character. But it can be done.

Before Mary Barra became CEO and Chair of General Motors, GM had a reputation for having a “siloed mentality”: organized for conflict, with division heads fighting for resources. To transform that culture into an innovation ecosystem, Mary led the charge for “leveraging diversity of thought”:

“If we all just come into the room, and we all think the same, and immediately come to the same answer, we haven’t really circled the issue well enough to debate the right next step. It’s OK to admit what you don’t know. It’s OK to ask for help. And it’s more than OK to listen to the people you lead. In fact, it’s essential.”

She inspired a unity of will behind a mega-purpose, larger than what GM could accomplish alone:

“To create a world with zero crashes, to save lives; zero emissions, so future generations can inherit a healthier planet; and zero congestion, so customers get back a precious commodity, time.”

In healthy, vibrant ecosystems, there is a harmonious ebb and flow of creating, nurturing, and dissolving. Sustaining and renewing such ecosystems for conscious innovation starts within our own minds and hearts, irrespective of the organizational patterns we work in.

Let’s all do our part. Invite new conversations with people of different backgrounds and experiences. Learn from everything that happens in your day. Reach across boundaries… and discover what’s possible.

-=-=-=- 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.