Participants in Velocity, which is an intensive yearlong leadership development program for 20 Ecumen employees, recently spent the day at 3M.  The focus of the visit was innovation.  Among the many highlights was time spent with Alex Cirillo.  To say Alex has a diverse background would be an understatement.  In his career, among other things, he’s been a monk, elementary school teacher, prison guard, scientist, CEO of 3M Canada and now head of 3M’s foundation.  He also was actually at Woodstock (Yes, the Woodstock.)  Here are 10 Lessons Velocity participants picked up from Alex and 3M regarding innovation:

1.  Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.  (3M has the capability to make a couch come out of a Swiss Army knife.  So what?)
 
2. Resign yourself to the fact that there is no such thing as a LTQF (long-term quick fix).
 
3.  Be "multilingual" – this means be able to speak with other areas of your company/world, share knowledge, build collaboration.
 
4.  Be clear about the context in which you’re working. (Fish swimming in a fishbowl might think they’re in the Atlantic Ocean and the biggest fish in the world.  They’re not.  They’re missing the context.)
 
5.  Keep your perspective.
 
6.  Know when to think in Black and White and when to think in Color.  (Oftentimes simple is the very best.)
 
7. The thing you should work hardest at is to build confidence in your people.  Innovation is a "contact sport," people have to be confident in collaborating and working with others.
 
8.  Be a teacher.
 
9.  Be personally committed to making yourself and those around you excited about innovating.
 
10. Be positive, open to change and hungry to learn.