Business
How to Be a Smart Contrarian (via Harvard Business Review)
“There are four traps that incumbent innovators often fall into. First, their managers are usually trapped in a dominant logic on which they base decisions and miss innovation opportunities that come from defying the dominant logic. Second, successful incumbents (especially if they created the status quo) risk being overconfident in their own insights and networks, which means they miss smart new ideas they’re not plugged into. Third, they too often rely on people like themselves, thereby ignoring the creativity dividend that comes with diversity. Finally, they may well be locked into a dominant culture rooted in the dominant model, which imposes social penalties on people who depart from standard practice.”
A Futurist’s Guide to Preparing Your Company for Constant Change (via Harvard Business Review)
“The time to prepare for change is not when it hits. It’s before it hits, and during times of relative calm. Reacting to change in the moment keeps you forever on the defensive, and the consequences can be severe. You’re unable to see where the future is heading because your attention is consumed with dodging the next curveball. This exposes your organization to unnecessary risks and overlooks new opportunities. It’s a recipe for frustration and lagging performance at best — collapse at worst. While finding “the right time” to prepare for change can be difficult, there are myriad ways to get started. The author presents four steps leaders can take to prepare their organizations to thrive amid constant change.”