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The Role of "The Encouragers" This week we go inside the Okanagan Science & Technology Council's Silicon Innovation Awards. First of all, thank you to the title sponsor, Petraroia Langford Edwards & Rush for their continued commitment to the science and technology community through their sponsorship of this event. With category sponsors of Community Futures Development Corporation (Guest Speaker Dr. Martha Piper, President & Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia), the Business Development Bank (Most Promising Emerging Technology Company of the Year), MacLean Group Marketing (Outstanding Contribution to the Science and Technology Community), Telus (Innovative Organization of the Year), and ONE Information Technology (Innovator of the Year) along with wine sponsor Summerhill Pyramid Winery, the evening was a night to remember. Rather than review each of the category winners (see http://www.ostec.ca/news.php for additional information), I thought I would take the opportunity to talk about the unsung heroes of technology companies. So who are these unsung heroes? Are they the tech CEO? Are they the inventor of the new technology or perhaps the employees that spend countless hours attempting to deliver on the thought leader's crazy idea? Who are the unsung heroes of innovative companies? From my perspective, these unsung heroes play a critical role in driving innovation in the science and technology community and are often unseen and unheard. They are behind the scenes playing a role that no one else can play. I have termed them "The Encouragers". "The Encouragers" are those trusted few that really know what is going on inside the leader's head. They are the only ones that see the unseen, including the wave of emotions that ebb and flow inside the innovator throughout the entire creative process. They know the times when the innovator is in agony wondering if their idea is ever doing to work, if they have made a huge mistake, if possibly they are headed down the wrong path. They provide a dose of reality when it is needed and hope when everything else is falling apart. They know when to listen and when to give advice. They are a new breed of innovator that has always been there but hardly spoken of. They are "The Encouragers", without which no science and technology innovator could survive. "The Encouragers" play a vital role. They are the "trusted advisors" that highly value their friendship with the innovator. Their encouragement comes in the form of a quick call or timely word of support to the innovator to continue to forge ahead, to keep taking the enormous creative and personal risks and to keep investing in their dream. They are there when no one else is, when all have abandoned the idea and the innovator's dream. They keep the innovator on track by believing in their idea and supporting their continued efforts. So may I be so bold to say that the real innovation occurs behind the scenes? It occurs in those moments of crisis when the innovator needs help from those that they trust. So thank you to all of "The Encouragers" out there, most of whom you may never meet. They are the unseen heroes, helping innovation thrive in the Silicon Vineyard. Steve Burns, CA, CMC, CFP, is the President and CEO of Burns Innovation Group Inc. (www.burnsinnovation.com) and Steve Burns Inc. Chartered Accountant (www.steveburns.ca), which provide consulting and accounting services to entrepreneurs. You can reach Steve at 763-4716 |
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