Braden Kelley Interview on Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire

"Passion is a prerequisite not just for getting started with innovation: people leading innovation projects must have enough passion to fight through, over, around or under any obstacles they may encounter in their effort to make a new idea a reality..." - Braden Kelley, Author of Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire

Braden Kelley

Braden Kelley’s, Stoking Your Innovation Bonfire, fires up any organization with timely strategies to rekindle structure, culture and vision. Braden uses many case studies that open a window as to what innovation strategies work well for some and what are problematic for others. Each chapter proposes enlightened alternatives to blockages firms encounter.

Blinded by the Light – Vision Blockages
Peering in the Dark – Strategy Blockages
Setting a Course Blindfolded – Goal Blockages
What Are They Really Thinking? – Insight Blockages
Shining a Light on the Customer Problem – Idea Generation Blockages
Picking a Winner Without Looking – Idea Evaluation Blockages
Going to Market Blind – Idea Commercialization Blockages
Have You Had an Innovation Lobotomy? Organizational Psychology Blockages
Do Your Policies and Processes Keep People in the Dark? Information and Structural Blockages
Keeping the Lights On – Sustainability Blockages

Braden Kelley sizes up organizational innovation, the status quo. He identifies its underlying assumptions and shows some of the old rules which should be broken such as, separate Research and Development Departments. In so doing, organization-wide innovation is possible.  Kelley urges organizations to jump the gate and do something unique as they did earlier in bringing an original innovation to market.

Amazing graphs and charts help project the big picture.   You ask thoughtful questions related to the impact of culture in an organization - questions help readers pinpoint opportunities for cultural change.  Here are some examples:

• Is it okay to fail in our organization?
• Is failure permitted and possibly even celebrated?
• Is learning from failure valued and embraced?

Braden's chapter on an Innovation Lobotomy drew my attention since I use brain based strategies in working with clients of the MITA International Brain Center.

Interestingly, Braden discovered psychological blockages cause greatest trouble for organizations as they make changes. Here's how these relate to newly discovered facts about the human brain:

Most people are afraid to fail so they are less likely to take risks. Vivid memories associated with emotional events such as how team members were treated in past when experiments failed.  Strong memories of harsh treatment are stored in the amygdala of each team member's brain.  The memory literally rushes back any time a new risk arises, and freezes many from ever venturing forth again.  On the other hand, reflection to figure out where to from here, can turn harsh situations around for those willing to step forward with a thoughtful risk.

Organizational culture has a profound impact since trust levels can make or break initiatives.  Many organizational models are broken today and brainpower must be recharged for innovation to thrive.

Braden offers these brilliant antidotes:

Breaking out of the mold increases peoples' ability to imagine breakthrough solutions.  More brainpower comes into play when employees' gifts and talents are valued in ways that new solutions can lead change.

Flexibility to stretch beyond comfort zones.  The human brain's equipped to tackle toxins from folks who are stuck in a rut to create the new.

During my interview with Braden Kelley I zeroed in blockages related to people and organizations who experience an Innovation Lobotomy.  During the interview you'll note Braden's passion for and wisdom about innovation shine.  



I highly recommend Braden's book.