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Good Morning Thinkers!
Archive: October 9, 2000

Innovation: Top Down Only?

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-- Margaret Mead (1901-1978) US anthropologist, author

One of the most frequent comments made about innovation is that "it has to start of the top." We agree with Gary Hamel (Leading the Revolution) when he says, "What utter rubbish."

We agree that it is easier when change is supported by senior management but the world is filled with examples of change that started at the grassroots. 3M even has a group of 400 activists known as GRIT (Grass Roots Innovation Team). One of the things that often stops us from taking action is the thought that we're the only ones who think change is necessary. That is seldom true the only problem is that, too often, all of us who see the changes needed haven't found each other.

So, here's a challenge for the coming week. Think of something that needs to be changed in your world, something you feel passionate about, and then find two other people who feel that same frustration or passion. Don't try to launch a solution, just casually talk to a few people, saying, "What do you think about .?" or "Does it bother you that .?" or "Are you having trouble with .?"

See what kind of responses you get and when you've found two other people who respond with some heat, arrange to spend a lunch hour talking about the situation. Focus on the problems the situation is creating and what needs to be done. End with what YOU could do to move the situation closer to resolution. (Never talk about what THEY should be doing.) You might find that the only thing you can do is talk to more people, find more people that have the same concerns, and that's ok because that's how grassroots movements start.

Over the next couple of weeks, we'd love to hear brief versions of your encounters.
Send TO: grit@thinksmart.com, SUBJECT: GRIT.
--Joyce Wycoff