instructor Hood's Key Ideas from Productive Tensions
by Christopher B. Bingham, Rory M. McDonald

“Leaders innovating in new markets resemble children in that there is much they don’t yet know. They operate in utterly strange but fascinating environments, where discovery and surprise are a constant.”

“Introducing new-to-the-world innovations and fundamentally disruptive ideas requires an approach that embraces the wisdom of ignoring, instead of deferring to, the data.”

“Using crowds – or the people around us – to generate solutions is an effective way to overcome the inherent limitations of individual cognitive processing, particularly in entrepreneurial settings where leaders must make swift decisions in the face of uncertainty.”

“Simple-rule heuristics are useful because they help leaders negotiate the fundamental tension between efficiency and flexibility.”

“History demonstrates that people are more accepting of novelty when it is anchored in familiarity – in something that is widely known or widely used.”

“A well-designed purpose brand functions like a compass for both customers and company staff. It guides customers to the products that will do the job they need done.”

“Whether tensions ultimately harm or fortify an organization depends on how they’re addressed, and thus, in many instances, whether they’re anticipated.”