Conflict and Diversity: The Narrative of Innovation
Stories are the air we breath, the lingua franca of our existence. Our actions are constantly in line and in sync with the story we most believe at the time. Above the desk in which I join our Zoom calls lies one of my prized possessions. It’s that proverbial one thing I would grab if my house were to catch fire. As I seek to know and live out a better story studying at my desk, Grandpa Frank stares at me deep from within a shadow box frame. His doctored photograph proudly sporting his World War II Army uniform is surrounded by his medals, ribbons, and small tokens of his service in the Pacific Campaign.
Recently, our family was thumbing through his documents and we found that he had forged his brother’s birthday to enlist underage. It begs the question – what story was so compelling to this rural farm boy that would cause him to orient his future around and risk his life for? I imagine it was a story of good versus evil, of national pride, of rising above, of finding his teenage limits, of being a part of something outside himself, and of literally saving the world. It was a story he carried to the very end of his life, something so core to his identity that he would go on to ostracize a hall mate in his nursing home because this “cowardly” man did not serve some sixty years ago. Our lives are driven by a story. At the heart of Grandpa Frank’s story (and every story) lies the elements of conflict and diversity.
Conflict and Diversity in Narratives
There remains no story without conflict and diversity. (For Dylan) The epic tale of The Lord of the Rings is not a story of nine hobbits monotonously farming the Shire, but a quest to vanquish evil with a fellowship consisting of men, hobbits, an elf, a dwarf, and a wizard each contributing in turn. Conflict and diversity. This week I stumbled across a concept called the Story Spine. It suggests that many stories can be reduced to the structure “Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___.” It’s that phrase that hints at conflict, “One day…” that drives the story. I invite you to try it with your favorite book or movie.
Conflict and Diversity in Innovation
In the same way, innovation carries these same narrative characteristics. As Linda Hill and her colleagues attest in their article, “Unlocking Slices of Genius: Leading for Innovation,” “There is considerable research that suggests that diversity and conflict are essential ingredients for innovation. In innovative teams, differences in perspective, expertise, and intentions are amplified and used as resources” for problem solving (617).
Hill (et al) introduces a powerful voice for me to consider in my research, that of Mary Parker Follett. Her voice is so welcomed because it is outside the male-dominated, 21st century-laden, Silicon-Valley-centric voices that are so typical to the topic of innovation. Nearly one hundred years ago, Follett carved out a path for what is now called “integrative problem solving.” This describes a “process of… using difference and conflict to create a solution in which the whole is truly more than the sum of the parts” (618). Follett was a social worker and political scientist where she became a leading voice in organizational behavior and theory highlighting conflict as a positive function in the problem solving process. Conflict is usually viewed as a nuisance at worst and a necessary evil at best. Follett (and Hill) suggest conflict is the the source of collective creativity. Current innovative theory is nearly unanimous saying long gone are the days of the single, creative genius. It’s the role of the leader to embrace diversity of thought, background, and ideas as well as the inherent conflict to unlock the slices of genius in their teams.
Innovators, then, are tasked as master story architects, weaving a tale of belonging, an alternative future, and employing diversity and conflict as the driving plot line of the innovative story arc. Hill and her team conclude their findings with three points. You’ll notice the narrative-like approach:
- Innovation is about co-design. It’s about engaging the diverse “slices of genius” among the team to solve problems together.
- The art of leadership for innovation is about “creating a world to which people want to belong.” One where people are valued as individuals and contributing to something collective.
- Leadership for innovation is more about leading from behind. Gleaning from more of an Eastern concept, this leadership approach is more about “shaping individual and collective experiences to foster innovation rather than about setting direction and mobilizing people to follow.” (613-14).
What story is my leadership telling? What tale might be told. In my context, I aspire to facilitate more of these kinds of stories that read something like this:
Once upon a time there was a team devoted to impacting college students.
Every day, they labored on campus with yesterday’s mindset, posture, and tools.
One day they awoke to their reality of the status quo.
Because of that, they risked with a new approach. They failed, but they “caught the bug.”
Because of that, they risked again, committed to something greater.
Until finally, relying on the diversity of their team, they found an approach that resonated with college students to great effect.
As I close, I wonder If my grandchildren had a framed picture of me on their wall, what story might they say drove and compelled me? I hope it would be the Story of God using a Diverse people to redeem the Conflict through his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
__
Linda A. Hill, Maurizio Travaglini, Greg Brandeau, and Emily Stecker, “Unlocking the Slices of Genius in Your Organization: Leading for Innovation,” in Handbook of Leadership Theory and Practice, ed. Nitin Nohria and Rakesh Khurana (Boston: Harvard Business Press, 2010).
About the Author
Shawn Cramer
19 responses to “Conflict and Diversity: The Narrative of Innovation”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Shawn,
I’m excited to see how your story, and that of your community, unfolds in the years to come! I have no doubt your grandchildren will remember the many ways the Story of God was lived out in your life.
Your post made me think of our ability as humans to send a probe to Mars, but our inability to reach agreements and discover resolutions within our governments. What would you say are the key differences in those environments for integration of innovation? How can humans be so brilliant to create things that have never existed before and find a way to a different planet, but we can’t seem to get along with people across the aisle from us long enough to create thoughtful and effective solutions to the challenges we face day to day? Is it in the awakening, willingness to take risks, permission to fail? Across the board, are those the key ingredients of the “secret sauce”? Another perspective often shared is that people and systems won’t change until significant pain is experienced? But in the case of making our way to Mars, I think that argument fails. What do you think? How do you get people to “awaken to the reality of the status quo” and move them from that point?
Darcy,
I’ll lean on Brenda Slater McNeil as she highlights the path of preservation maintaining the status quo and the path of transformation which includes realization, identification, preparation and activation. What moves a person from one to the other is a catalytic event. We began praying that way as a campus staff team about our events – not that they were all encompassing, but that they might be catalytic events to the path of transformation. I couldn’t post an image in a reply, but you’ll see these two paths here: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/jesuscreed/2015/12/17/brenda-salter-mcneils-roadmap-to-reconciliation/ .
Yeah bro. Solid post.
One of my Jewish Rabbi brothers has taught me about a Hebrew concept called “machlochet” (pronounced with a lot of phlegm in the “ch” portions of the word. It’s translation? “Holy disagreement.” The idea is this: none of us hold the entire truth (or best idea or ideal solution). Rather, we each hold part of it and, as we engage in the work of holy disagreement (conflict) we bring our portions together and what is co-created is far better than the isolated part. I see what you’re considering above (and in your project) is inviting a whole lot of machlochet. For, it’s in the process of holy co-creation that not only is a product developed, but, hopefully, a team with deepened unity will be forged who will enact the product/program with an example of oneness that will be as instructive as the content of the deliverable. Onward, my friend!
Thanks, Jer. I’ve put “machlochet” on my master mind map for thinking/reading/learning. Do you have any suggested resources for that topic?
Shawn, I share the same hope and pray for your statement; “I hope it would be the Story of God using a Diverse people to redeem the Conflict through his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.”
God created us with what tremendous amount of diversity, and he delights in it. Diversity transcends cultures, and it also implies a diversity of cultures, opinions, and perspectives.
Amen.
“What story is my leadership telling?”
First of all, thanks for the Lord of the Rings shout out 😉 I’m about to take that and run with it in a different fantasy universe for the moment. *puts on nerd glasses*
In The Legend of Drizzt series, one of the main character’s companions is a dwarf named Bruenor Battlehammer. Deep into the series, Bruenor becomes the king of the dwarven kingdom of Mithril Hall. In one of the arcs, a kingdom of Orcs seeks to become a legitimate nation within the continent, but of course all of the people living in that area aren’t happy about it. For three books, it details the war between the people of the Silver Marches and the budding Kingdom of Many-Arrows. The war finally ends with the Treaty of Garumn’s Gorge, where the people of the Silver Marches and the Kingdom of Many-Arrows sign an agreement that legitimizes the new Orc Kingdom.
This proves to be an action that follows Bruenor the rest of his life (and he sees the effects of his actions when he’s reborn [magic, gods, rewards – it’s a long story]). He constantly questions his decision, but Drizzt is always quick to remind him of the legacy he’s leaving behind. Bruenor is seen as the one who moved toward an era of peace (a real innovation where Orcs are concerned). Sure, not everyone likes the decision and there are real consequences later, but the story itself is powerful. Bruenor is regarded as one of the greatest dwarves to ever live; his legacy extends far beyond anything he could ever have imagined.
Dylan, did you write that all from memory? Wow, you’re deep in, my brother.
I’m fascinated by what elements of stories seem to ring most true, deep, and powerful, especially across cultures. I’m really impressed with Joseph Campbell’s work on the monomyth (but could pushback on his heavy Jungian bent).
I’m on Book 31 at this point (the last that’s been written in the series so far), so you could say I’m in deep 😉
Campbell’s Monomyth sounds interesting; would be keen on looking more into that. But yeah, I think it’s definitely true that there are elements of stories that transcend culture and points us in a universal direction. Stories ultimately speak to our inner selves that we find difficulty expressing otherwise.
Shawn your grandfather appears to have been a man driven by his convictions and a belief in taking responsibility for the freedom of others. My dad lied about his age during World War 2 on the advice from his brother to get in and go Navy under the warning something big was about to happen. My dad heeded the warning and joined the Navy. A few weeks later my Uncle Harry was killed in D-Day by friendly fire. The concepts of conviction and responsibility as a driving force in what drives our lives is getting rarer. What conviction and sense of responsibility undergirds your passion for innovation?
I’m convicted that God gives us the amazing privilege to participate in the redemption of the cosmos as we co-create a people and co-create solutions to the problems of the fall.
Shawn,
And there you went … to the visual ethnography.
I feel like you hit on something very key to leadership in the 21st century. What story is that leader telling and what legacy do they leave behind? How do we model leadership for our babies and grandbabies? I did not know any of my grandparents. They had passed before I was born. My father modeled patience — unending, resilient patience — to the point where I sometimes questioned his stand, but what he taught me was to lay down my own thoughts and pride and listen to the other for it is in that posture that we are shaped and can learn much.
“As I close, I wonder If my grandchildren had a framed picture of me on their wall, what story might they say drove and compelled me?”
Are there ways that you model your answer to your children?
Nancy,
This is the second mention of your father this week on our blogs. Thanks for bringing his influence to bear on our group. It also gives me a glimpse of your relationship with him.
I’m trying to move our family mantras from unspoken to spoken and from passive to active. One reminder I have sent to my inbox every Friday is the reminder to cook a meal together over the weekend and do something inventive or creative together. Connecting over a created meal and doing something out of the norm (especially to bless someone else) is just one rhythm I try to keep with my family.
Shawn,
My dad was A-W-E-S-O-M-E. He was also a much older father, but he was my best friend for many years.
Keep investing in your kids with time. Some of my favorite times with my dad were not the things that we did but the time that he took to just sit and listen. He was very intentional to have father/daughter coffee dates with me when I was in high school and college.
Conflict is usually viewed as a nuisance at worst and a necessary evil at best.
How can we help church leadership teams appreciate conflict?
I think it takes a secure leader to mine for conflict. Patrick Lencioni’s “5 Dysfunctions of a Team” identifies a fear of conflict as a major hindrance for team.
http://5dysfunctions.blogspot.com/2011/07/dysfunction-2-fear-of-conflict.html
Great post. I’m struck by how our story so closely aligns with purpose (either what know our purpose to be or what we want our purpose to be.) And yet, I doubt that your grandfather had one single thought about his future story as he made the brave and sacrificial decision to serve.
I’m a person who would love to be able to write and control my own story, but I wonder about what I miss by dreaming of my future legacy rather than simply living and trusting that what I do in this time and place will be enough.
If the heart of innovation has to do with new ideas or better solutions to a real or perceived need, problem, or opportunity, then are you really talking about more about the environment for innovation? How to lead in such a way that inspires and encourages innovation collaboratively? To me, that sounds like an incredible legacy.
John, you’re so encouraging.
You are right that there probably wasn’t a single story that compelled him, and that brings to light how subconscious, precognitive level. James KA Smith defines his use of imagination as “a quasi-faculty whereby we construe the world on a precognitive level, on a register that is fundamentally aesthetic precisely because it is so closely tied to the body.” (Imagine the Kingdom, 17). It’s the fact we don’t even realize we are orienting our lives to an explicit story is what makes it so powerful.
Shawn, thanks brother. Your commitment to the story and innovating story is a blessing to learn from. Opens up interaction with life, everyday and opportunity as a beginning point or some focus somewhere alone the line of it. I think the way that you have put this forward perhaps we can see the story of our studies and projects as a part of. narrative even, as a narrative on its own. The story of your grandfather and bringing it home with your own was beautiful. There sure are choices and twists-turns along the way! And, the interlacing of our stories into one as a part of this great history of life and more, life knowing God. ‘The Adjustment Bureau’ just popped into my mind. Innovative attitude to create and re-create.