A small species has become a big problem in New England. Over 200 years ago green crabs came to the United States on European ships. Ever since then, the invasive species has been wreaking havoc on the ecosystem up and down the eastern shoreline. They eat mollusks—to the tune of 40 mussels a day per crab—and destroy habitats. One company took the old adage about turning lemons into lemonade to heart. Tamworth Distilling is using the problematic crabs to make whiskey. Green crabs are the key ingredient in the distillery’s Crab Trapper whiskey. This not only makes a delicious drink, but it also publicizes the problem. Through sharing the detrimental effects that green crabs have, Tamworth Distilling is involving others in the ecosystem that affects them. Creative leaders respect the ideas of others and involve them in expanding innovation.
Capitalize on Your Strengths
You bring unique assets to universal problems. How are you poised to create solutions that others will miss? Innovative leaders understand and leverage their competitive advantage.
When Fisk University’s enrollment soared, it had to find housing for hundreds of students. The timeline to construct traditional dorm buildings is long, leaving a gap in serving students. Fisk is a small, private college. The leaders of Fisk recognized that the institution’s size gave them agility. They are able to ideate and implement ideas that might get mired down at larger institutions. And they’ve hatched an ingenious idea: transform shipping containers into student apartments. This unconventional building material not only allows Fisk to create housing much more quickly than traditional housing, it does so at a significant savings—costing 40 percent less. The chic steel apartments in school colors will be housing students this fall. Fisk didn’t employ a one-size-fits-all approach, but used its size to its advantage.
Fail Boldly
If creativity is accessible to everyone, why don’t more leaders take a chance on innovative solutions? The answer is simple: risk. There is potential liability in stepping out in implementing an untried strategy. Savvy leaders recognize that failure is a necessary and instructive part of success. They are willing not only to weather some failures, but also to learn from them as they refine their methodology. So, I invite you to try new things. You will fail. But you will also succeed. Creativity can be the catalyst your institution needs to propel growth and sustain longevity.
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Cheryl Hyatt is a founding partner and CEO of Hyatt – Fennell, Executive Search Plus and President and owner of The Charitable Resources Group, Inc.
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