Bolt of Insight

This is what we found as we laid out the parts to assemble a shade awning for our patio.

My reaction, “Crap. Everyone one of these bolts is bent and broken.”

Oops.

The bolts weren’t defective.

They were an innovation.

I couldn’t see it at first.

My knowledge and experience of what a bolt looks like over-ruled the reality of what was in my hand.

Status Quo: 1  Innovation: 0.

The post in the kit was also an innovation. Sure, I knew that. (Yeah, right.)

What innovation can’t we even imagine because we are so certain about what we know? How things ‘should’ be?

What ideas can’t we hear from our staff because as the leader and we gotta have the answers?

More importantly, what do we do about our limited thinking?

Maybe we embrace this view: I have one view, not “the only” view.

Maybe we suspend our ever-present want to be right and look smart.

Maybe we ask our colleagues: This is what I see.  Please tell me what you see.

Maybe, when someone has an idea that sounds defective, we stop dismissing it out of hand and have a conversation to see the innovation that may be right in under our nose.