Double edged swords were meant to cut going in and coming out.

Innovation can often be like a double edged sword. The first edge, often in the beginning, involves the confused looks, the ‘this is not how things are done around here’ looks. It involves the legacy systems and mindsets.

But then for a brief moment, things change slightly as people ‘get’ it. You and it are celebrated. It is exciting, invigorating. You and it are ‘cool’ again.

However, this doesn’t last long. The second edge comes along as the shine comes off the innovation. The bright lights dim and the hard work of converting the masses becomes the job. It is no longer different, it is now part of how things are done. It might even be seen as boring.

The funny thing is that this rarely happens across your organisation or ‘market’ at the same time. It is not uncommon for all three phases to be happening at the same time. And perhaps that is why it is important to listen and to ‘see’ others to understand where they are at.

Photo by Ricardo Cruz