SESSION 5: Leading Innovation & Sensemaking

Executive program, based on academic research & case studies

Preparing innovation leaders and top management teams for sustainable innovation:

How can leaders deal with the complexities and challenges of constant change? The work of senior leaders often involves the entrenchment of paradoxes in organization strategy, yet they are frequently ill-prepared to deal with the resulting paradoxical demands. Gaia Grant’s latest doctoral research reveals how understanding individual, team and organisation ‘Paradoxical Innovation Orientations’ (PIOs) can assist with strategic alignment and enable ambidexterity. Drawing from thousands of survey responses, multiple interviews with heads of innovation and a deep dive immersion into one organisation over a year – along with her consulting work with organisations over 30 years. Learn about how successful leaders can effectively utilise the tensions between ‘fixed’ and ‘future’ mindsets to fuel sustainable development and growth. The rare insights combine rigorous academic research with practical business experience to equip leaders to prepare a culture for innovation implementation. The significance of senior teams and the need for strategic alignment.

How can leaders deal with the complexities and challenges of constant change? The work of senior leaders often involves the entrenchment of paradoxes in organization strategy, yet they are frequently ill-prepared to deal with the resulting paradoxical demands. Gaia Grant’s latest doctoral research reveals how understanding individual, team and organisation ‘Paradoxical Innovation Orientations’ (PIOs) can assist with strategic alignment and enable ambidexterity. Drawing from thousands of survey responses, multiple interviews with heads of innovation and a deep dive immersion into one organisation over a year – along with her consulting work with organisations over 30 years – Gaia shares about how successful leaders can effectively utilise the tensions between ‘fixed’ and ‘future’ mindsets to fuel sustainable development and growth. The rare insights combine rigorous academic research with practical business experience to equip leaders to prepare a culture for innovation implementation. The significance of senior teams and the need for strategic alignment.

Reflection on the company applications:

  • Charting the org: Identifying current positions, roles and points of tension
  • Polar Positioning: Mapping exercise to comparing current and desired state
  • Modelling: Understanding the iCi and iCLi models and how to apply them. Aligning specific roles with individual biases and preferences.
  • Action plans: Goal setting and action planning based on the findings of the facilitated session

Leading Innovation & Sensemaking
Download White Paper: "What it means to be an ambidextrous innovation leader" by Gaia Grant