Be Less Zombie

39Next-Level Creative Culture

The power of ‘kindred connections.’

Whenever I'm inside an organisation that has a strong reputation for innovation, I always sense an irresistible force magnetically pulling people together and forward.

That force isn't accidental. It's well understood by the leaders of these organisations and it is carefully cultivated as a source of competitive advantage.

It attracts the best people, retains them, draws out their best work, and motivates them to reach beyond their grasp. All key ingredients for a culture of innovation.

So what is this force? I call it a ‘kindred connection’, a fusion of three elements that forms an almost unbreakable bond between people and organisations:

• Connection to the purpose of the organisation
• We're doing something here that matters.
• Connection to meaningful, progressing work
• I'm getting stuff done that matters.
• Connection to other people on the same ‘journey’
• These people get it and are ‘on it’.

At its simplest, innovation rock stars create environments where people can do something that they care about with people that they care about. It's mission-making. It's tribal. It's kindred connection.

Connection to Purpose

Company purpose is who we are, what we stand for, the difference we're making, and for whom. That's not difficult information for any organisation to share with its employees on a regular basis. It's corporate ...