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Leadership on a tightrope, part 5.
Last week, Joel Mokyr was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics for his pioneering work on how innovation-driven progress transforms societies. His concept—a "culture of growth"—offers more than an economic lens; it provides a profound leadership lesson for every organization navigating disruption today.
Mokyr showed that sustained economic growth depends not just on technology or capital, but on culture—a shared set of beliefs that encourages curiosity, openness to (and sharing of) ideas, and the confidence to challenge convention. It was this intellectual and institutional openness that ushered in the modern era. In recognizing his work, the Nobel Committee highlighted how innovation can only flourish when people and systems remain receptive to change.
This insight powerfully underscores what I call a turnaround mindset. In an era of continuous disruption, success doesn't come from rigid plans—it comes from adaptability, discipline, and cultural agility. Corporate transformation is only possible when leaders see culture not as static, but as a renewable asset that fuels innovation and execution.
A true turnaround mindset means:
- Relentless focus: Prioritizing what matters most, tuning out distractions, and acting with urgency.
- Execution over perfection: Making fast, evidence-based decisions, then adjusting with humility and speed if new facts emerge.
- Unambiguous communication: Leaders must be chief communicators, modeling candor and clarity, especially when stakes are highest.
Just as history's great innovators created communities that shared and built on knowledge, today's most resilient companies are those creating ecosystems of trust, learning, and experimentation. These organizations don't simply react to change—they anticipate and harness it.
In a world that refuses to slow down, change is constant, and disruption is the new normal. As Mokyr's research reminds us, growth is never guaranteed. It must be cultivated through the right cultural foundations—whether in an economy, a team, or a global enterprise. In a disrupted world, leaders who nurture a culture of growth will drive not just resilience, but reinvention.
Originally published by Linkedin
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