Success but a Shortcoming

Larry Osborne's book Innovation's Dirty Little Secret: Why Serial Innovators Succeed where Others Fail is but one of several books in a series put forward by the Leadership Network.  This manuscript fits their Innovation Series, and do not let the size fool you.  Yes, this is a small book with very short chapters, but they have some mighty themes running through them.  The book is logical, practical, and rational.  It is a quick read -- which must be read and then digested again later. 

If you want to find the "dirty little secret" related to serial innovation, you will not have to read far into the book.  You, however, will need to keep reading to see how it all fits together.  He divides the book into several sections to fully develop the secret throughout:  (1) igniting innovation, (2) accelerating innovation, (3) sabotaging innovation, and (4) a legacy of innovation.  Between the 3rd and 4th sections, he shifts by looking at decision-making and visioneering.  While not symmetrical with the others, it does fit his progression -- if you want to stop sabotaging but leave a legacy of innovation, then it is all about decisions and vision.

Chapter 7 of the book is one of the best summaries I have seen related to a mission statement.  Leadership gurus talk about the need for a mission, but they rarely dig into the "meat" of that conversation.  Osborne puts it this way:  a mission, to be effective, must be "ruthlessly honest, widely known, and broadly accepted" (p 55).  He points out some common, but infrequently discussed, issues with mission statements -- they are confused with a marketing strategy or committees should create the mission.  He challenges those issues by saying that a mission is operational strategy as you decide what to "feed or starve" in order to accomplish the mission.  In running contrary to modern scholarship, he says the mission should be created by the leader to avoid a statement that is too broad and too politically correct.  If the mission values everything as important and uses flowery language to say it "just right," then the mission cannot help the organization focus.

Although I rate this book very well, I am still somewhat perplexed as to why this is touted as a "Christian" leadership book.  Yes, the author is a former pastor and does share some experience about his work in the ministry, the manuscript does not speak of Christian principles that are found in God's Word.  It is a leadership book that fails to mention that God is the First and Ultimate example of leadership.  If innovation is our only goal, then we miss the commission that we have been given by God -- to show the love of Christ to a needy world.  That, in my opinion, is a significant shortcoming. 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”