Many business people today are well aware that innovation is the key to success in the present and future.  Not nearly as many people are clear about how to make innovation happen.  Too may of us are simply doing the same things in a slightly different way, expecting dramatic positive results.  Innovation is different than that.  Innovation is not “Thinking Outside the Box.”  Just think about that.  How long have you heard that phrase, “Thinking Outside the Box?”  Likely, for many years.  Now, how innovative is that?!  Not very.  That is just a very simple example of the fact that we are not usually very good at doing things differently, in large part because we don’t think differently. To do differently requires that we think differently.

My husband Mike coined the term “Thinking Outside the Triangle” years ago, and trademarked the phrase.  Our plan is that we will write a book together by this title in the near future.  We have already made some decisions about the book.  One of those decisions is that the book will have three sections: Leadership, Change, and Innovation.  What we are not yet settled on is the right order of those sections.  So, I am inviting my readers to “weigh in” on this.

Does Change result in Leadership that drives Innovation? Does Leadership drive Change that results in Innovation?  Does Innovation result in Change that drives Leadership?  Most likely a case can be made for at least two of these, and perhaps all three.  But what is the most logical order?  We are interested in building the model that can be replicated and result in needed improvements for companies, societies and even families.  For the model to be most helpful it is important to make the right decision regarding the best order of these three: Change, Innovation, and Leadership.

There are some “givens” to this project.  One is that the focus of the book will be business, but the principles can apply to individuals, groups and families. Another is that we are very clear about our definitions and descriptions of Change, Leadership, and Innovation, including those things that stimulate these, and what prohibits them.  We both have many years of business experience (and life experience!) and have found that our greater lessons are not in our successes, but in our failures.  We plan to be honest about those, yet appropriately protect the confidentiality of others.

In future posts I will be discussing Leadership, Change, and Innovation.  I am glad to add any perspectives of others who share those, and give permission for such.  Let’s get a dialogue going of these important ideas.  For after all, regardless of our individual perspectives on the best order for Innovation, Change, and Leadership, we all benefit when they are present.  Yes, even Change, which we resist too often.

I look forward to your thoughts.