The President's Corner. The Challenge to Innovate

The Challenge to Innovate
By: Néstor Colombo

Transformation in today’s world is, at the same time, so fulminating and impulsive that it challenges the predictions and utopias of all ideological ciphers. The unfailing constant is change itself. Those who know how to navigate through changes will be those most prepared for the future. Those organizations, ministries and programs that will affect the greatest advancement of the establishment of Christian principles in mankind and environs will be those which couple a true culture of innovation with the powerful teachings of Jesus Christ.

A culture of innovation is one which promotes receptiveness to change, to the unexpected, to apprenticeship, and to open communication. An innovative organization is one that creates a platform for freedom, and for the fulfillment of the individuals (men and women) that constitute the organization. Innovation is the fruit of hard work. Innovation implies planning, teamwork, the ability to discern and take advantage of possibilities. It calls for leadership that knows how to mobilize the human will and glean the potential of available resources. Innovation requires the aptitude to channel and resolve conflict.

The ability to innovate can be taught and learned in the same way as the ability to enterprise as I mentioned in an earlier article. Learning begins with the cultivating of an innovative attitude, which becomes a central theme for conversation when we talk about the discipleship of our youth and the future of the church. Leadership at every level should awaken a spirit of curiosity and empower the spirit of entrepreneurship in those we lead, rather than frustrate our prodigies with desiccated information, and useless or near useless routines.

Technological innovation in the field of communications is taking reign over human will and actions. New levels of data storage, and the flow and management of information have opened unprecedented possibilities for the development of creative energy and innovation. Mass communications is increasingly becoming an unsurpassed ally in the education, development and diffusion of the innovative principles. Yet, innovation must come together with entrepreneurship (the art of converting ideas into networking enterprises oriented toward satisfying real need), in order to transform itself into action, progress, and change.

In closing, I will share a quote from Martin Luther King.

“If our words do not suffice, we will attempt to persuade with our actions. We will always be willing to talk and procure a righteous compromise, but we are prepared to suffer and even risk our lives to become witnesses of the truth.”