Innovation (Human Insider View) #cindertoflame

Innovation is readily linked to technological advances, and often associated with solutions involving information technology. Computers are superior to humans in convergent thinking and with lightening speed can connect what is already known by applying algorithms, data mining and statistics.

Creativity and inspiration however, are human activities that require the ability to imagine and construct original ideas. This is not possible through machine learning as computers cannot engage in divergent thinking, generate “out-of-the-box”, non-linear, and seemingly illogical ideas. Nor, can computer technology convert ideas into a concrete plan that explores unknown factors, leading to successful innovation.

It is people who innovate. The central question is how to maximize innovation capacity of individuals, teams, and leaders within the corporate work environment?

Let’s concentrate on a singular aspect of building a healthy corporate culture for major innovation: the health and well-being of individual employees. To ensure we are on the same page, reflect upon life’s context and its descriptors: busy, time-limited, complex and full of competing demands and stressors. This was the state of the world prior to COVID-19 and its impact on people’s physical and mental health, social networks, work and school arrangements, loss of jobs and most tragically - loved ones.

The Conference Board of Canada hosts webinars that share key insights from PwC’s Annual Global CEO Surveys. Canadian (and global) survey results report employee well-being as prioritized high on the list of corporate priorities for CEOs. This supports the case that the human side of innovation requires immediate attention, especially when the impact and aftereffects of COVID-19 are anticipated to take years for recovery. Everyone can benefit from restoration, rejuvenation and revitalization.

Well-being is a very broad term which aims to capture health, wellness, one’s overall outlook on life, work-life balance and resilience. Innovation capacity - in every public and private sector Corporation - is impacted by employee well-being. For example, municipalities are focused on factors that promote health and well-being in their communities. However, the ability to serve communities is influenced by the well-being of employees who provide municipal public services. Similarly, supporting the well-being of health professionals enables them to provide client, patient and family centred care.

Corporations have taken steps to promote employee well-being through various strategies such as providing access to a gym, onsite wellness education, health benefits, human resource policies (e.g. flextime) and the support of occupational health departments who have expanded their mental health resources in direct response to COVID-19.

While these measures are praiseworthy, an evidence-based approach - utilized by healthcare professionals - that applies behavioral change theories and the concept of self-care and delivered as a formal program to help individuals identify modifiable lifestyle factors (e.g. diet, exercise, sleep and stress management), set and monitor their own goals, apply strategies to maintain success and address failure - is by far the most effective.

This leads to the next question: how is health and well-being relevant to building a healthy corporate culture for major innovation?

Mindset and energy level are directly associated with one’s health and perception of their well-being. Studies have shown that when Corporations provide time and support for employee well-being, it positively influences attendance, motivation, work performance and engagement. Furthermore, case studies of innovation research have identified: strong employee engagement, a positive mindset toward change(s), and sustained high energy, as essential prerequisites for creativity and successful implementation of major innovation.

Cinder to Flame helps Corporations solve complex challenges with strategic services that energize people, fuel a healthy corporate culture and ignite major innovation.

Cinder to Flame builds multiple facets of a healthy corporate culture, engaging individuals, teams, and leaders within the context of their work environment. One facet is the health and well-being of individual employees – this is only the beginning.

Cinder to Flame is: Where People, Health and Innovation Intersect. Navigate to the copyrighted and trademarked Venn diagram: https://www.cindertoflame.ca/

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