INNOVATION
Shaping the future of innovation post pandemic
By Senorine Wasike
We woke up to the news of Omicron , another new Covid-19 variant . A few weeks ago , it somehow felt like we were entering a place of rest after a bumpy roller coaster ride since March 2020 when Covid-19 first hit . Omicron is highly muted and has been classified as a variant of concern by the World Health Organization .
So , when does it all end ?
Many organizations have accepted the reality that post-covid is like a mirage , and it will happen when it happens . Many have accepted that it will take time , but how can innovators continue to shape the future in an increasingly disruptive world as we wait to get past the pandemic ?
Sharing some of my favorite quotes that speak to doing more with less , the need for resilience , sense of urgency , and agility in the current unprecedented times .
If you see a snake , just kill it - don ’ t appoint a committee on snakes ( Rose Perot )
Companies no longer have the luxury of a bloated bureaucracy . There is no time to overthink decisions . There is an increasing need for courage to make the hard decisions like changing the business model to fit the evolving consumer needs or curling a new product launch that failed to gain traction in the market successfully . Honest conversations about the challenges we face are a great way to cultivate a snake-killing culture .
He who knows best knows how little he knows ( Thomas Jefferson )
In his book , How the Mighty Fall , Jim
Collins argues that no matter how great an organization is , it remains vulnerable to decline or failure . Having a know-it-all attitude borders complacency and resistance to change . Companies that know best have a fixed mindset , while those who know little embrace a growth mindset . The latter has helped many firms during the turbulent Covid times .
“ Companies no longer have the luxury of a bloated bureaucracy . There is no time to overthink decisions . There is an increasing need for courage to make the hard decisions .”
The art of being very audacious and very careful at the same time is the art of success ( Napoleon )
The current times have no room for pussyfooting . We do not just need big hairy audacious goals but must be committed to achieving success .
Do what you should do , when you should do it , whether you feel like it or not ( Thomas Huxley )
This speaks to the need for speed . Innovative thinkers must demonstrate a sense of urgency and immediacy by doing what must be done . In the current business world , agility allows us to respond to current and anticipated consumer needs . Also , agile cultures encourage a change of plans in line with the rapidly changing business environment
Individually , we are one drop . Together we are an ocean ( Ryunosuke Satoto )
Collaboration and partnerships , both internally and externally , will continue to shape the future of how companies strategize and innovate .
Life is 10 % what happens to you and 90 % how you react ( Charles . R . Swindoll )
Companies that will continue shaping the future post the pandemic are those with the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back despite the challenges they face .
What worked yesterday will not continue to work tomorrow ( Anon )
Adopt or die , they say . New product propositions or other business plans should be future-looking with insights and learnings from previous work .
What are some of the initiatives you are taking to shape the future of innovation within your company ? As aptly put by Sir Winston Churchill , whatever you do , Never ! Never ! Never ! Never give up ! ■
Senorine Wasike is a Strategy and Innovation scholar with over 10 years ’ corporate experience . She currently heads innovations at Kenya Wine Agencies ( KWAL ). Commune with her on email at :
senorine . wasike @ gmail . com
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