Not Just Innovation: Finding Ideas that Are Worth Repeating
Tried and true or brand spanking new?
When it comes time for creativity in leadership (every day, perhaps?) it can feel like a change is needed. However, just because something has been done once—or several times—doesn’t mean that you need to throw it out and start over from scratch.
In grant proposals, for example, funders want to see evidence that the programs you seek funding for are ones that will work. And evidence that a program has—or elements of that program have—already been successful in the past go a long way to convincing grantmakers that your ideas are viable and will truly make a difference in the community you serve.
Collect Feedback
A good leader knows where she wants to go, and has a road map for getting there. But if she hears along the way that there’s a tree across the path and it would be much easier to ford the river instead—well, it would be prudent to take that feedback into consideration.
It can be difficult to accept negative or critical feedback, but understanding what has been working—and not working—in your organization is vital to success.
We recommend that you, and your team, try to collect feedback from as many sources as you can, over the life of your programs. Not every piece of feedback is relevant or useful by itself, but when you examine user and community opinions as a whole it should give you some insight into how your programs and projects might be improved with only slight changes.
Pay Attention to What Works
It’s difficult when you receive negative feedback, especially on a project that you’ve worked on for a long time. The impulse can be to focus on the things that didn’t work. However, it’s also important to note what did work. Keep track of the elements and techniques that you find have gotten you closer to your goals. Write these down, and come back to them when you’re searching for “new” ideas.
Keep a Scrapbook or Journal or other “Tickler” File
There’s not a day that goes by that our team members don’t have an “Aha!” moment. Little lightning strikes of inspiration are part of what keeps our job—and yours—interesting and fulfilling. Unfortunately, not every “Aha!” is practical or useful at the moment. Keeping a scrapbook, journal, computer folder or shoebox of scribbled notes that describes these ideas is important. Pull out this “tickler” when you are pondering a new, creative path and let it tickle your imagination. Even if none of the ideas you record turn out to be usable, they may in turn spark awareness of the things you’re already doing right and provide a foundation for a new plan.
Look at other Case Studies
Some things work up here in Alaska that won’t work in the Lower 48 and vice versa. We’ve got a diverse population with unique needs, and many of our community members live in remote, rural areas. But, there are still plenty of programs that went over well Down South that can be applied to Alaska, with a bit of a twist. Take, for example, some of the uses of technology that are rolling out in rural areas in the Midwest.
Use What Works
Let’s say your program serves your region by providing support for local visual artists. Now, you want to serve that same region by providing support for local musicians. You know that musicians and visual artists have different needs (perhaps artists need supplies and workspaces, while musicians need instrument repair and sound-proof rehearsal spaces) and you won’t be able to simply copy your artists’ program to help the musicians. However, there may be many facets of your artists’ program (subsidizing training, organizing workshops, creating partnerships with local businesses for exhibitions and performances) that you can reuse to help musicians.
Believe in Yourself, and Your Team
Going over past projects looking for inspiration, and striving to create a program that “innovates” is a draining process. Whether you decide to strike everything down and build from the bottom up, or to revamp a program or project with a new focus in mind, don’t lose confidence in yourself, and your team.
What do you think? Is it better to recycle or innovate? Let us know on social media.