Innovation Management is an Oxymoron

Effective innovation requires risk taking, the ability to capitalize on opportunity that is not a traditional source of value for your business and strategic vision that illuminates a path forward when the business world is seemingly against you and even members of your own team are in doubt of a favorable outcome. In short, innovation requires great leadership.

Effective management requires mitigating risk, squeezing the very most profit out of already established revenue streams (aka efficiency) and keeping the highest amount of employees focused on “mission critical” work that is proven to deliver profits. In short, management requires great managers.

Now here’s the part where I say something like, you of course need both – leaders & managers – to run and grow a successful business. This is said because it is a truth. But the idea that you are going to apply managerial tactics to something that requires individuals to abandon managerial techniques is rather ludicrous. Keep in mind, managers can lead, but many choose or are guided not to. 

Innovation management is an oxymoron. If you truly want to innovate, stop managing and start leading, right now. 

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