The “triple crises” that we are experiencing in climate, energy, and food are evident in the ecological catastrophe, economic inequality, and unabated dehumanization evident in the world today.* Innovation—any sort—must therefore respond to the resolution of these crises. The salvation of the human soul may not be understood apart from the healing of the world. Leading by innovation as a process of restoration therefore “cannot be restricted to one or two sectors. They will touch all aspects of our lives (Shiva 2008, 12).

The idea of leading by innovation is predicated upon the reality of restoration—the re-turning of something to its original beauty or condition. What does this sort of innovation look like when it comes to working with people? The goals and processes of innovation need to evidence the restoration of participants to that which is beautiful and good and true.

Not all leadership is like this though. Not every leader has the best interest of the people they work with in mind, but they should; the mature ones do. What does it look like to have the best interest of the people who work alongside you toward achieving innovation goals? 

A chief evidence of leading by innovation is the restoration of a sense of righteousness—the healing of the mind and the body, the beautification of the collective and individual soul of humanity, the earth in all its goodness, and all creation to its pristine and primal glory of the creator, who is the ultimate or ideal measure for all things good.

*Vandana Shiva, Soil Not Oil, p.12.

Photo by Ian Schneider on Unsplash. Thank you!