Innovation Is Polarizing

Ok, I’ll say it. Innovation is a polarizing term. It can be tough to be innovative when the world seems to be spinning out of control. Within our organizations, resources are tight, people are burned out, and knowledge work is being outsourced to AI. But what if these are the exact right conditions for more innovation and creativity?

Proponents will tell you that innovation is about disruption – and they mean it in a good way. Disruption upsets the status quo by creating new markets with fewer competitors (and, of course, riches await to those who can create these opportunities). Others claim innovation is a source of competitive advantage – a way to stay on top, or to make a name for yourself (or your organization).

However, many of the groups I work with express healthy skepticism when it comes to innovation. Inside their organizations, the endless quest for innovation drains resources and disrupts stability. When SOS (Shiny Object Syndrome) sets in, teams lose focus, chasing their tails in search of the next big thing.

In the name of progress, many innovative projects push ahead without concern for accessibility or equity.

Not great.

So, what do we do with this tension?

If you’ll forgive the overused expression, we lean in. I’m excited to co-facilitate the 2026 ARL President’s Institute with Helen Kula, as we explore what innovation looks like in an era of constrained resources, changing political agendas, and sky-high workloads.

I love helping people discover frameworks for innovation, techniques for creative problem-solving, and mindsets for invention. But if the word innovation rubs you the wrong way, I get it. I’ve been there. Here’s my secret: Innovation is just problem solving in a fancy coat.

Let’s agree to dial back the innovation rhetoric and just get down to some old-fashioned problem solving.  

Sound good?

Inspiration

Unlock Innovation. ARL President’s Institute 2026.