Cultivating Critical Skills (OPINION)

 

C&I in the workplace are lacking, according to most business leaders. Yet, C&I are often the key to gaining a competitive edge in business growth efforts. For creative or artistic industries, C&I are critical factors. That is why the skills are so sought after. Let’s explore what they are, how to develop them and why they are in such demand. 

What are creativity and innovation? Dictionary.com defines creativity as “the ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.,” while innovation is defined as “the introduction of new things or methods.” 

Inherent in the pair is that one needs to be able to come up with ideas and introduce them in ways that get support.

How are C&I developed? As we begin to really look at C&I, we begin to realize there are other skills necessary for C&I to be effective. It is not enough to just have new ideas. They have to be relevant enough to give the business the edge they need. Thus, the list of needed skills lengthens. People need the ability to:

• Do complex process thinking in order to understand what could change (often not in the same person as the truly creative ideas)

• Stay open to change (flexibility)

• Evaluate the idea for benefits (analysis)

• Explain the change (communication/presentation skills)

• Sell new ideas (influence) across a wide enough group of people to actually make them a reality

Because these skills don’t always exist in the same person, people in organizations must build collaboration with others who think differently than they do, in order to have a strong platform in which C&I can deliver the desired results. 

This “cluster of skills” that makes C&I possible are pre-requisites that should be developed in people, in every organization.  Development involves hiring the right people who can do and/or learn the skill. The organization is responsible for teaching them how to do it and apply it. 

Why is C&I in such demand? The short answer is that when a skill is in short supply, it is in higher demand. 

The more complex answer as to why many people do not have these skills well developed rests with the way we are raised as people (to color in the lines and do things that stay within societies expectations) and the way we are educated (more theory than true application). 

There is complexity in the solution. Organizational cultures must foster creativity rather than following expectations; risk rather than caution; and dialogue rather than fear. 

Cultures are shaped by what’s measured and rewarded. They are fostered by what’s allowed. If an employee who does quality work gets recognized, rewarded or promoted, the message is that quality matters. But, if someone is recognized, rewarded or promoted who has taken shortcuts, the message is that quality is not important. The culture begins to accept mediocrity. 

Leadership can change the course of culture if they choose to do so. They must pay attention to what is happening and plan for change.

So, what can you do?  If you are a member of a leadership team or in a position to impact the direction within your company, begin thinking about setting the rules of the game across the entire organization to get the desired outcome.

New ideas are your future.  Good ones will set you apart.  Remember that ideas do not get airborne without good commitment, collaboration and follow through. They never succeed without support. 

Patti and Ken Leith are managing partners of EDGES Inc., a strategic planning and process efficiency firm based in Bentonville. They also own and operate e-Gauge Inc., a software services company specializing in strategic execution, talent management and project management. They can be reached at 479-203-7198 or 970-515-7898.