My dad mentions to me that we have an induction burner on our stove. I think to myself, well that’s interesting…what does that mean? He goes on to explain that it is a flame that burns hotter and larger enabling a pot of water to boil faster.
Very Cool!
Considering I am extremely impatient I find this terrific.
So as I fill a large pot of water from the sink and I turn the induction burner on high, I watch the water begin to boil. At first you would notice that the water begins to fizz as small bubbles emerge from the bottom of the water and glide to the top, creating a rippling effect across the surface. Soon after, many more bubbles join and glide together creating a greater disturbance on the surface. As the pot sits longer on the stove, more and more bubbles forcibly work their way toward the top creating a disturbance that shakes and stirs until the water reaches 212 degrees and a rolling boil.
Much like boiling water, innovation has to start from somewhere. Many will argue that true innovation cannot be embraced unless it is harnessed “At the Top.” It is the top level management that must cultivate and sow the seeds of innovation on any team. The folks at the bottom are left to continue about their jobs, business as usual. So how then will an organization have innovative ideas if all the creativity is siphoned to the top? You can’t heat water from the top down, no – water is heated from the bottom up.
I am sure if you were to take a step back and marvel at some of the great innovations by Fortune 500 companies in the past 10 years you may uncover that the innovative thinking was not a decision of a CEO or CMO, but rather a grassroots effort driven by the employees who are working in the trenches and interacting with the customer day in and day out. As much as they would like to tell you that their senior leadership team came up with the idea, chances are it came from the “bottom.” But How?
While I cannot speak for all, I can only make suggestions on how I think bottom up innovation happens, (and trust me I think that bottom up innovation is the way to go! However I will aknowlege that Top Down Innovation works well to drive a culture… but that’s another post.)
Things to think about when boiling bottom up innovation:
- Innovation and Creativity Go Hand in Hand. Are you brainstorming often? Are you writing your ideas down? If not, then start! Innovation cannot be spread with your singular idea. You have to constantly be thinking of new ideas and building off of old ideas. When you least expect to be innovative is when you will shine.
- Get Chatty! Like a pot of boiling water, one bubble will not make a pot of water boil, but it is the power of the collective that get things churning. When you have an idea – share it with a friend or a colleague. If you don’t share your idea it sits at the bottom and goes nowhere fast!
- Show Passion. Passion is hard to replicate and hard to replace. If you have passion for a new idea or initiative, then make sure people can see it on your face. If you are positive and excited about what you are doing, chances are others will join your cause.
- Ask Forgiveness, Not Permission. This is a general motto I like to live. But innovation will not wait for someone to say, OK. Just do it. New documentation, try it. New process, why not! The more you do, the less time you will have to talk yourself out of it. If you maintain that the interest of the organization is first and foremost, you will never go wrong.
- Elevate Constantly. For bottom up innovation to work, eventually someone “On Top” will have to buy-into what you are preaching, so be vulnerable and put yourself out there. Use every interaction as a way to communicate and promote your idea. In the hallway, a tweet or a simple elevator ride can be enough time to peak their interest and want to know more.
“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower” said Steve Jobs. So be that bubble, that leader and go be innovative from the bottom of your pot of water.
