Innovative People Create Innovative Companies
Being “innovative” is all the rage right now. Companies like Google and Apple are always in the news for their latest innovations and for being a creative company that is always coming up with new ideas. But have you ever thought about what makes them innovative? There’s really no such thing as an “innovative company” itself - it’s the people within the organization that make it what it is. In Brenna Sniderman’s article, “The Five Personalities of Innovators: Which One Are You?” Brenna identifies 5 personalities that are crucial to building and maintaining an innovative company. They are:
Movers and Shakers: these are generally the “visionaries” of the company. They are the people with the vision and the drive to propel the business forward towards it.
Experimenters: these people are always open to a better way. They are able to take an idea and develop it all the way through execution.
Star Pupils: these individuals are well-rounded and are good at a lot of things – navigating situations, seeking out talent and developing teams, etc. You name it and they can get it done.
Controllers: thrive on structure and clear objectives – these are the people who set the rhythm and make sure everyone beats the drum in sync.
Hangers-on: these folks are the reality check for the more visionary types of the business. They pave the way for getting things done by establishing processes and realistic plans.
You’ll notice that each of these types of innovators has one or more distinct strengths that the other ones don’t have. The important thing is to have some of each personality within your organization in order for it to be a successful innovative company. Can you imagine Apple with an organization full of Steve Jobs’? It would likely have tons of great ideas, but they might not become anything more than that without other types of innovators contributing their unique strengths also.
The Culture Counts blog is a discussion of law firm culture and legal innovation, including topics such as effective leadership, employee engagement, workplace culture, ideal work environment, company core values, and workplace productivity.
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About the Firm:
Klemchuk LLP is a litigation, intellectual property, transactional, and international business law firm dedicated to protecting innovation. The firm provides tailored legal solutions to industries including software, technology, retail, real estate, consumer goods, ecommerce, telecommunications, restaurant, energy, media, and professional services. The firm focuses on serving mid-market companies seeking long-term, value-added relationships with a law firm. Learn more about experiencing law practiced differently and our local counsel practice.
The firm publishes Intellectual Property Trends (latest developments in IP law), Conversations with Innovators (interviews with thought leaders), Leaders in Law (insights from law leaders), Culture Counts (thoughts on law firm culture and business), and Legal Insights (in-depth analysis of IP, litigation, and transactional law).