Want to Innovate? Get Mad!

Before I get started, let’s put the word mad in context.  If you look at the dictionary definition of the word and its synonyms, you’ll find words such as crazed, insane, reckless, maniacal, and furious, to name just a few.   In his talk at the Vistage Executive Summit in Denver today, titled Mad Leadership: The Surprising Habit of Great Innovators, Dave Logan speaks of the word mad in terms of its etymological meaning, which is much more about fire and passion than insanity or anger.   The heart of innovation is finding something you really care about.  Something that if not fixed will make your blood boil if you don’t address it.  It’s from this side of mad, from a place of deep caring and generosity, that spawns innovation born of collateral discoveries that can benefit your business and enrich the lives of your employees.

If you want to innovate, Logan suggests finding a group you really care about and enriching them with the “stuff” you have without any motives for ROI.  The ROI you receive will be the good you do which will revitalize your culture and often help you discover a solution to an unrelated business problem (aka a collateral discovery).  The innovation triangle combines stuff you have, provided to a cause or organization you really care about, designed to make a real difference.   Logan regards leadership as both aspirational and oppositional.   To learn more, watch out for his new book coming soon!

If you liked The Three Laws of Performance and Tribal Leadership, you’re going to love Mad Innovation!

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