Thought piece: Want to innovate? Start with...

Hey there, I'm thrilled to share the first free expansion to my upcoming book, "The LEAP Guide." This article, titled "The LEAP Guide Expansion I: On Love," dives into what breaks through resistance to change at innovative, yet old giants like JPMorgan, Patagonia, TPC, Google and more.

Excited to learn what you think!

The Love Triangle: Self, Work, and Others. An overlooked secret to unlocking innovation in business.

In the fast-paced, ever-changing landscape of modern business, the pursuit of innovation has become a key factor in determining an organization's success and longevity. Companies invest heavily in research and development, adopt cutting-edge technologies, and implement elaborate strategies to foster creativity and drive growth. However, amidst this relentless quest for innovation, one fundamental element is often overlooked: the power of…love.

Before you think of sticking flowers in rifle barrels, bear with me for a moment here.

At first glance, the concept of love may seem out of place in the corporate world, more suited to personal relationships and self-help books than boardrooms and business strategies. Yet, upon closer examination, it becomes evident that love, in its various forms, is a critical component of any thriving, innovative organization.

Take, for example, JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the world's largest financial institutions. The company has long recognized the importance of love in its corporate culture, with "Heart" being one of its core values. This emphasis on compassion, empathy, and genuine care for employees and customers alike has been instrumental in fostering a culture of innovation and resilience. Similarly, TPC (formerly IMC Pan Asia Alliance), a 100-year-old Singaporean conglomerate with a strong presence in the shipping industry, has anchored its innovative approach in the philosophy of love. By equating love with adding value to others, IMC has successfully navigated challenging times and maintained its competitive advantage through the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and data-driven strategies.

Another notable example is Interface, a global commercial flooring company that has successfully integrated love and sustainability into its core business strategy, fostering a culture of compassion and empowerment among its employees while pioneering sustainable manufacturing practices. This led to a massive success, captured in the movie “Beyond Zero” (2022).

These companies prove that the power of love in driving innovation and success is not limited to small or niche organizations, but can be effectively harnessed by large, global corporations across various industries.

The Love Triangle: Self, Work, and Others.

To better understand the role of love in driving innovation, we must first examine its three core aspects: love for oneself, love for one's work, and love for others.

1. Love Yourself

The foundation of personal and professional growth lies in self-love. When individuals possess a healthy sense of self-worth and self-acceptance, they are more likely to embrace their unique strengths, acknowledge their weaknesses, and approach challenges with resilience and adaptability. Most importantly for innovation: they are much more open to change. This is groundbreaking since resistance to change is perhaps the #1 contributing factor to companies going out of business.

Research supports this notion. A study by the University of Michigan found that employees with higher levels of self-compassion–a key component of self-love–reported greater job satisfaction, lower levels of stress, and enhanced resilience in the face of setbacks (Neff et al., 2007). Furthermore, a meta-analysis conducted by Zessin et al. (2015) revealed that self-compassion was positively associated with motivation, engagement, and performance in the workplace.

By encouraging self-love, organizations create an environment where employees feel empowered to take risks, learn from failures, and continuously improve. This mindset is essential for innovation, as it allows individuals to break free from the fear of failure and embrace the challenges that come with exploring new ideas and approaches.

2. Love What You Do

When employees genuinely love what they work on, they are intrinsically motivated to excel, push boundaries, and find creative solutions to complex problems. Passion, which is the second name of love, is a powerful force in the pursuit of innovation.

We can observe this in Patagonia's culture cultivated by Yvon Chouinard, which embodies this principle. In his book "Let My People Go Surfing," Chouinard emphasizes the importance of fostering a work environment where employees are excited to come to work each day (Chouinard, 2006). By prioritizing passion and purpose over mere profit, Patagonia has consistently innovated in the realms of sustainability, social responsibility, and product design, cementing its position as a leader in the outdoor apparel industry.

Numerous studies support the link between passion and innovation. A survey by Deloitte found that passionate employees are more likely to take risks, challenge the status quo, and drive change within their organizations (Deloitte, 2014). Additionally, research by Vallerand et al. (2003) demonstrated that harmonious passion–a type of passion characterized by voluntary engagement and a sense of control–is associated with increased creativity, persistence, and performance.

Passion for what you do is the best motivator to do it well, and consistently.

3. Love Others

Innovation rarely occurs in isolation; it thrives on collaboration, diverse perspectives, and the cross-pollination of ideas. The expressions of love within the company can show as the genuine care employees exhibit for one another, and the mutual support they’re willing to offer. Acting this way, they create an environment conducive to open communication, trust, and psychological safety–key ingredients for innovation.

When you think of situations from your personal life, what are some that make you feel safe and welcomed? Are they created by complete strangers or by those who you love, and who love you back? And then, when you feel this embrace, does it help you to exceed your own limitations, and reach for more?

In his book "The Fearless Organization," Amy Edmondson, a professor at Harvard Business School, highlights the importance of psychological safety in fostering innovation. Edmondson defines psychological safety as "a shared belief held by members of a team that the team is safe for interpersonal risk-taking" (Edmondson, 1999). When employees feel secure in expressing their ideas, admitting mistakes, and challenging the status quo without fear of reprisal, they are more likely to engage in the kind of creative thinking and experimentation that drives innovation. Love, then, creates a safe container for innovation to thrive in.

The significance of psychological safety is further underscored by Google's Project Aristotle, an extensive study of team effectiveness. The study found that the single most important factor in determining a team's success was not the individual brilliance of its members, but rather the presence of psychological safety within the group (Duhigg, 2016). In teams where employees felt safe to take risks and be vulnerable, innovation and performance flourished. This is the potential of love in organizations.

The Power of Persistence and Resilience

Closely tied to the concept of love is the importance of persistence and resilience in the face of challenges and setbacks. Innovation, by its very nature, involves venturing into uncharted territory, confronting obstacles, and learning from failures. Cultivating a mindset of persistence and resilience is essential for individuals and organizations to navigate the inherent uncertainties of the innovation process.

Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, has extensively researched the role of grit–a combination of passion and perseverance–in achieving long-term goals…

P.S. Stay tuned for more updates on "The LEAP Guide" – coming soon to transform the way we think about and implement innovation!

Much love
Matt

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