May
2007
Innovation Tips
…ideas
for building collaborative innovation
=======================================
May Commencements: Celebration is a
Catalyst for Renewal
The month of May traditionally has been a time of new beginnings. Young
birds leave their nests and fly out into the wide world. High school and
university students graduate and start a new path to their future. This period
of commencement is an opportunity to celebrate an achievement, to give credit,
and be part of a community. Amidst all the festivities, it is also a time to
stand still, to be quiet, to be conscious and to reflect on what was and what
can be.
Organizations also know these moments of new beginnings, whether as part of a
planned change effort or as part of the normal organizational life cycle. In
contrast to the optimism-laden festivities of commencement, organizational
change and new beginnings often create apprehension, distrust, cynicism, and
even anxiety.
A newly recruited leader might try to sweep the dust aside and start
fresh, but people in organizations have too often learned that this either
means budget cuts or, after an initial spurt of ungrounded enthusiasm, business
as usual. Can you imagine a new leader coming into an organization instead
simply celebrating the commitment that people in the organization have shown in
the past?
To show appreciation for what has been achieved and to reflect on what has been
learned helps to identify what has given life to the organization. Sincere
compliments, praise, and positive recognition help to fill emotional needs that
are too often ignored. It defines and redefines what is important; it honors
the commitment of everyone involved and acknowledges the sacrifices made along
the way.
A celebration of the past can also be a moment to reflect on a vision for
the future. It can be a signal for a new beginning, full of new fertile
opportunities. Celebrating what is good about the organization provides the
impetus to collectively envision a positive future while building energy to
work toward that future vision with optimism.
Organizations do not have to wait for a new leader to come in and take the
initiative; nor do they need to finish a complex change process to
"earn" the right to celebrate. Any occasion that promotes an
awareness of accomplishments and honors achievements can help propel the organization
into a future that is pregnant with possibility.
Celebration does not have to follow successful change efforts. Celebration is itself a catalyst for the commencement of fruitful renewal.
KCR/jgj
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