Charged Up: Managing the Energy that Drives Innovation

Research Report

Rob Cross, Jane Linder and Andrew Parker

And they recognize that energized employees are more likely to produce valuable innovations than those who have become passive or reactionary. However, they also struggle with the best way to drive enthusiasm and passion deep into a workforce. One often-overlooked opportunity for improvement lies in the daily conversations and meetings that either energize or de-energize employees. To help address these seemingly invisible interactions, the authors applied network analysis in 15 organizations and then conducted interviews in each organization to identify ways energy is created and diffused in employee networks that are so critical for innovation. This article discusses measures executives can take to improve the energy network to help keep innovation flowing to generate high performance.