Well, the truth of the matter is, I’m running out of time. I’m in my mid-fifties, and while I’ve ramped up the frequency and the urgency of the messaging, and worked to the very best of my ability to affect change, I’m not feeling particularly pleased with the outcomes! Seems I’m going to have to find a more innovative, compelling means for contributing to the changes of behaviours and outcomes of individuals and organizations with which I have connection!

Now there’s one of the most over-used words of the new millennium - innovation. (trivia: 151,000,000 hits on Google at this writing). Mission statements and strategic plans from organizations of every size and description seem to have taken a page from the same song book that states that in addition to capitalizing on people’s unique strengths, valuing diversity and demonstrating more empathy, they will be innovative in the ways and means in which they will conduct business, and, accordingly, be more productive and profitable. Hah! (Bear with me, I’m practicing being mean!)

Few leaders and fewer managers (yes, there is a difference) realize that the very training and experience that got them a promotion in the first place means that they’ve been schooled to protect what already exists, the status quo, and to work against the very forces needed for innovation. Admit it – I’ve just described your organization, or at the very least, one you’ve recently left!

Think about the last new talented recruit who came into your own company with fresh ideas, ready to make a difference, only to find that the platitudes and statements stated in the interview process, were just that – platitudes and statements. Oh, the people in the organization are good people, and they seem motivated to do the best job possible, but one of the following scenarios usually occurs. The first is that the new recruit learns quickly how to play the internal culture game, and sooner or later behaves like everyone else; or, he makes his very best attempt to disrupt the status quo, with all of the best intentions, and is labeled as a ‘troublemaker’; or the third scenario,  especially true for the really talented new recruit  -  once she gets a taste of organizational reality, she immediately begins to scope out new opportunities (now made infinitely easier through social networking technologies) to get out of said limiting situation, and find a place where she can experience professional breathing room.

Think about this: professional management was born from the desire to optimize and control, not to lead waves of change. You may be familiar with the names of a couple of fathers of modern management theory, Frederick Taylor and Henry Ford. “Oh, not us,” you may say. “Just last year the whole senior management team spent two brain-numbing days tearing apart the strategic plan with the sole purpose of renewing leadership and thus, heightening innovation within our organization.” Dr. Phil’s now well-worn question is still appropriate, “So, how’s that workin’ for ya?’

Ok, I know I’ve made my point (but man, do I ever feel better!). Here’s where all this is leading to. I would submit to you that first of all, we need to admit that we must be continuously learning about ourselves, and, indeed, the rest of the world, in order to figure out how to compete in the global marketplace. Secondly, we need to experience some personal and professional humility, and admit that we don’t really know how to solve some of the complex challenges that we are facing. In the last five years, I can count on one hand the number of authentic leaders whom I’ve met who are ready to admit that finding the answers to these challenges is a journey, filled with false starts, errors, course corrections, and discouragement – there is no one way. It is also, if you’re lucky enough to surround yourself with other people of similar mindsets, one of life’s most fascinating and rewarding experiences!

This is exactly what LearnNB wishes to promote – learning, of all kinds, in all situations, using all available means of theories, methods and enabling technologies available to us. You’ll note a number of learning events, some near, some international in scope, announced in this newsletter. Conferences and symposia are not the only ways for effective learning, of course, and it may be that you’ve got something to share with New Brunswick’s learning community. If so, contact us – this is your community!