“Obviously I’m afraid. You build up to it, you train, you practice…. Part of the pleasure of free soloing is that you take something that should be really scary… and then make it comfortable through enough training or practice… You get to be in some of the most incredible places on earth.” - Alex Honnold, free solo climber. Interestingly, despite feeling it, an MRI finds that Alex's brain does not show fear.
Fear is an inevitable part of innovation and impactful change.
According to the article below, fear not only impedes innovation at the vast majority of companies, few companies make an effort to address fear head on. While the article suggests ways innovative companies attempt to reduce or work with fear, I believe there are some key recommendations missing.
David Nickelson, PsyD, JD shares some of his recommendations and insights in a recent PAC OTR/OTR conversation. Within my network, I especially recommend tech entrepreneurs and innovative product and GTM leaders tune in, because behavior change is an essential but under-discussed part of product and GTM. https://lnkd.in/ghhp6hCR
In addition to the David’s keen insights and takeaways from the article above, I also believe established companies would innovate more effectively and more quickly by:
- Partnering with “fearless solo climbers.”
- Addressing fear head on.
Seasoned entrepreneurs and startups that have demonstrated an ability to go into the proverbial wilderness and blaze new paths are, for all intents and purposes, “fearless solo climbers.” Lacking the guardrails, safety nets and protections more typical of large organizations, they repetitively confront fears, day-in and day-out, without established structures, resources and safety nets.
I believe involving and partnering with startups and entrepreneurs could enable established companies to climb forward more fearlessly. Perhaps one day there will even be an MRI study making the business case for this approach to conquering resistance to change…..
Addressing fear directly is also key to change and innovation. Over the years I’ve seen how unacknowledged fear directly and deeply inhibits innovation and risk-taking. I believe it’s essential for the core leadership teams responsible for leading innovation, change or transformation to be able to acknowledge and articulate fear, both their own and those of their stakeholders.
By acknowledging the elephant in the room, getting to know it, and inviting it in to be part of the strategy and execution, fear stops being an inhibitor: it simply becomes part of the process.
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Alex Honnold, free solo climber, on fear: https://lnkd.in/gjpWnfBR
"Fear factor: Overcoming human barriers to innovation," McKinsey
https://lnkd.in/ghkkTbCQ
PACs Jeanne Teshler recently spoke with David Nickelson, PsyD, JD, Senior Partner & Advisory Lead at Randstad Digital about why it’s so hard for
#healthcare organizations to embrace #innovation at scale as part of our ongoing “On the Record/Off The Record: Healthcare Innovations Lessons Learned" series. Check out the full “On the Record” segment linked in the comments below.
#appliedbehaviorchange #nudge #digitaltransformation
#organizationalbehavior #behaviorchange #digitalhealth #innovation
#AIAdoption
