How To Lead A Quest

Part II A Quest Beckons

Quest [noun]: a search for an alternative option that meets cognitive criteria.

As soon as we step outside the relentless busywork — resisting the Curse of Efficiency and the Delusion of Progress — we can begin to realise and appreciate that our current (default) business model and modus operandi may not be relevant in future contexts.

When you first stop and think about it, this realisation is quite scary. It's an uncomfortable notion to consider — and so many don't. They instead look back to past successes to find validation within their experience, and comfort within existing paradigms of work.

But, for those who can move beyond the initial fear of an uncertain future, the second phase is likely to feel daunting. The sheer scale of the infinite complexity inherent within our uncertain future is intimidating, to say the least. As a consequence, leaders crave a direct and familiar approach to tackle this complexity. They attempt to reduce uncertainty.

What this tends to look like is an ‘ideas funnel', with ideas being fed into one side and innovation coming out the other. This can seem like a simple contraption that makes logical sense, and it's certainly a tool that gives everyone a sense that something is being done. Indeed, in its worst incarnation, some enterprises even come up with ‘give us your best idea' competitions. #facepalm

Such a simplistic approach comes at a cost. By seeking to reduce uncertainty — instead of questing within it — we end ...