Bias Against the Status Quo

Steve Jobs is a major figure in a new book on what differentiates the CEOs of innovative, disruptive companies from more run of the mill executives. The book, Innovator's DNA, describes the five skills of innovative disruptors that were identified after analyzing a series of interviews with a selection of CEOs. The selling point of the book is the idea that anybody can apply these behaviors in their professional or personal life to generate more and better ideas.

The marketing and organization of the book downplays a key finding of the original research. An early report on the project identified bias against the status quo as a common attitude among innovative CEOs. The book is written to highlight the skills, granted, and a bias against the status quo is more of a disposition, but that disposition is essential to pursuing a vision that deviates from "the right answer" to building a successful company. Seeking a disruptive innovation is essentially recognizing that there is a better way to get things done. The recognition of this shortcoming compels a search for a better way to do things. This search requires experimentation and trying novel approaches to routine tasks. A successful search requires a rejection of what everybody thinks is normal for the pursuit of something that you think is better.

Pursuing a vision that deviates from the accepted way of going about your business is a bigger challenge than developing that vision. The courage to make a new idea a reality is more precious than the new idea. Working to turn a novel idea into reality isn't a simple rejection of superficial appearance norms. It's more about an authentic sense of purpose and identity. It's an attitude and projection of confidence. It's an inability to follow the herd. Being away from the herd is uncomfortable. Embracing the ambiguity and uncertainty inherent in the cutting edge is the first step to making a difference in the world. It's also the hardest.