Insights for Change: Innovation is a collective undertaking
I never used to think of myself as a particularly creative person. As a kid, I would win classical piano competitions but completely freeze when my teacher asked me to compose something. While my partner whips up tasty dinners seemingly out of nothing, I methodically follow recipes. While some colleagues' lateral thinking has them jumping from one idea to another, I'm busy analyzing facts and organizing a logical argument. I sometimes wonder if I landed in the field of social innovation—as a creative vein of social change work—just to challenge myself in the area where I felt least equipped.
But the truth is, I was frustrated with a status quo that created or allowed for poverty and injustice, and I was optimistic that a better reality could exist. This made me curious about other possibilities, including—perhaps especially—possibilities that didn't exist yet. So I sought out people and opportunities that challenged me and helped me think differently. Curiosity, optimism, and collaboration became my sources of creativity and innovation.
We hear often that we must innovate to survive, to progress, to succeed, but being told to innovate can feel like being told to relax—easier said than done and thus incredibly frustrating. That’s why I appreciate Leah Kral's book, Innovation for Social Change: How wildly successful nonprofits inspire and deliver results. Kral demystifies an intimidating concept, breaking innovation down into an accessible roadmap, including stories that ground it in reality and tools that make it actionable for anyone.
People often conflate innovation with entrepreneurship. We celebrate individual heroic start-up innovators turning disruptive ideas into impact. In contrast, Kral's book presents innovation as a collective undertaking or, in the words of author Matt Ridley, "a team sport." The book guides readers not only to identify new ideas and turn those ideas into action, but also to build organizational cultures where innovation can thrive across teams and across time. Innovation does not equal start-ups. Innovation is a mindset and culture that listens to and learns from the past and present to imagine and build toward a better future.
Perhaps it is not a surprise then that while not a book about faith, Innovation for Social Change features several faith-rooted organizations. In fact, rather unusually for a book about innovation, Kral begins with the story of a Catholic school founded in 1886, St. Benedict’s in Newark, NJ. A few intrepid Benedictine monks who were committed to place and to the principles that guide their 1500-year-old religious order reopened St. Benedict’s in 1973 to serve a diverse student body after the largely white school had closed in the wake of racial tensions in the 1960s. Over time, it has become an internationally-renowned school for its innovation and various successes. St. Benedict’s puts its primary stakeholder—students—in charge and evolves constantly as it seeks to do what the monks have always done, serve their community.
As society’s challenges grow more complex, innovation is a necessity—not the exclusive territory of creative geniuses, but a collective responsibility. As Kral shares, there is no psychological difference between entrepreneurs and others. Innovation is a learnable set of skills, and a designable culture for our organizations. We all can innovate, together. Innovation for Social Change gives us a roadmap. Pick it up, read it with your team, implement some of the practices. Regardless of whether you lead a start-up or are part of a decades-old organization, you’ll be well on your way to leading the change your community and the world needs.
Purchase a copy of Innovation for Social Change and download a book discussion guide.
-Danielle Goldstone
Insights for Change is our series to pose questions and share short insights (our own and others’) for thinking creatively about faith and social change. They may be full-baked, half-baked, or just a pile of raw ingredients to play with. We hope they start conversation or inspire ideas. We invite you to add your own thoughts, experiences, and ideas to the mix.