People Are Naturally Geniuses, But...

In most organizations, notwithstanding the fact that we are nearing the end of January, executives are at work on establishing accountabilities and KPI's for their reports.

As I have been coaching some of these efforts, I have been reminding executives of several perspectives that I hold to be true:

1. That their people are naturally geniuses: they are naturally creative and innovative. If you don't see that in your organization it is because you have trained into your organization whatever it is you are getting. And if you doubt the fundamental nature of humans to be brilliant have a look at what the alum of an extraordinary school are doing – these are rural women and men – many of them illiterate – they've become solar engineers, artisans, dentists and doctors in their own villages. 
2. People are committed to doing a good job, they want to outperform expectations. They arrived on day one with that intent. If you are getting no accountability and low performance with great justifying excuses – have the point of view that that is exactly what you are training your people to give you.
3. People want to be part of something larger than themselves – they are moved and inspired by an audacious mission and by leaders who lead with integrity and authenticity – that is part of what explains Apples' genius and is more accessible that most executives realize.
4. We don't have to know how to to authentically commit to produce results in the future. Most leaders say, I want innovation and creativity to come out of the KPI's people take on. Yet notice, at the same time you want them to explain how they are going to produce the outcomes that will clearly need a breakthrough to pull off! Duh! If they could explain, what they are taking on it would not be a breakthrough. Be inspired by the Hole in the Wall Project – give people freedom to explore, to experiment, to get it wrong, to collaborate, and most important of all to learn, make discoveries and be the geniuses they want to be. People are being trained to play safe, avoid failure no wonder the expectations for innovation is not being realized.
5. Context is critical without a nurturing context for genius, innovation, creativity, collaboration, learning, team work - all the things leaders say they want – none will show up.

So have the point of view that what you are getting in your organization is a direct fit for the context you have created and continue to reinforce, and stop externalizing the source of any lack of performance or any unwanted behaviors to employees,