USAIN Bolt simply set the track ablaze at the London Olympics. In an Olympics, where many interesting stories were written, Bolt’s exploits represented the very epitome of excellence in sporting endeavor. Coming in with huge pressure to make the transition from super star to legend, Bolt made that journey in trademark style …and in record time as well.
His rousing sprinting extravaganzas have left behind some inspiring cerebral pointers in their slipstream. These ring true, across many domains of human interest. In fact even the corporate world can benefit from closely examining his exploits; especially those interested in the business of innovation. For such an endeavor, is all about being able to run out in front of a chasing pack. And few can top the world’s fastest man, in waxing eloquent on that aspect.
The need for speed
Usain Bolt is soon becoming a synonym for ultra-high speed. The world record holder in the 100 meters, the 200 meters and the 4x100meter relay, Bolt has effortlessly brushed by times, once thought impossible for the human form. But what propels him into the realms of greatness, is that he understands the need to keep getting faster. For no matter how good one is, there is always competition hanging around ones shoulder. And it is this relentless drive that keeps him ahead.
Organizations chasing innovation could do well to adopt some of these attitudes. The pursuit of innovation often makes it necessary, to eschew the achievement of complete perfection, in preference of getting there first. And this is an essential mindset any innovator must be willing to adopt. Because while there is a silver medal to be had at the Olympics, there are simply no prizes for finishing second best in the innovation game.
The flexibility to change lanes along the way
Usain Bolt’s athletics career, as he himself would not too modestly put it, has ensured that the average scores of batsmen around the world have stayed healthier. This is because he first begun life aspiring to become a pace bowler. It is only when his cricket coach, noticing his speed, advised him to try athletics; that the sporting world began to discover a true champion. The ability to recast oneself into something completely different; is a trait that truly has to be appreciated.
Even great exploratory stories often begin with the search for something, and the outcome of finding something else along the way. A case in point is how Columbus actually set out to discover India. Organizations that pursue innovation need to develop flexibility in perspective. Frequently something entirely different turns up during the process. It is only a keen and alert mind, which will be able to leverage that opportunity, at those crucial moments. Companies need expert eyes, which like Bolt’s cricket coach, can quickly assimilate the overall picture.
The tenacity to overcome hurdles
Just about a year ago, at the World Athletics Championships in South Korea, Bolt tasted failure. Overwhelming favorite to win his pet 100 meter event, he was disqualified due to consecutive false starts. Then just before the Olympics, Bolt was beaten twice by countryman Yohan Blake at the Jamaican trials. But come London, Bolt showed all his doubters and the competition, a clean pair of heels.
The voyage to ingenuity is always laden with setbacks. But it is often these very failures, which illuminate the way forward. Organizations those are serious about creativity, need to foster a culture of tolerating failure. Their leaders need to reposition failure, more in terms of useful learning. It is often when the fear of failure recedes from the mind; that rigorous efforts eventually begin to bear fruit-On the sporting track, and otherwise.
The ability to leave behind a distinct signature
There is a lot more to Usain Bolt’s trademark ‘bow and arrow’ celebration routine, than meets the eye. At one level it infuses a certain showmanship, both to the event and the star. At another it allows the athlete to communicate with the audience, and let them know how he feels. And yet at a third level, it is a sort of a ‘sporting cultural meme’, which when it gets copied across the world at different forums, always brings back memories of its originator.
Organizations that nurture innovation; could do well to heed the necessity for such ‘signature cues’. Bringing about a new product or process is one thing. But getting its effects to linger in the minds of the consumers and competition, is quite another. Conscious effort needs to be paid to the incorporation of such cues, which could make the innovation story linger.
Perhaps there is a need to devise specific and distinct rituals, pertaining to the usage of the idea. Maybe other sensorial stimuli can be devised, to make audiences sit up and take notice. Whatever is eventually employed, it is essential that the world consistently registers the result of an innovation race well won…
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As Usain bolts off into the history books, one can sit back, enjoy his performance and promptly forget all about it, once the television set is turned off. Or one can use his inspiring example, to bring about a speed and championship mentality, to the organizational thinking process. The choice is ours to make.
The writer is a creative thinking trainer and an independent brand consultant. He is the author of the book, ‘The Madness Starts at 9’ and also the patron saint of a footballing movement called Juhu Beach United, that celebrates, ‘the unfit, out of breath working professional of today’.
