Forty four people responded to the survey. The results of the survey yielded some fascinating insights.

Survey Result Highlights

Risk Hesitancy - What is your primary source of hesitation when it comes to taking work-related risks?

• The Implications of Failure - 59%

• Lack of Permission, Leadership, Support or Organizational Capability - 14%

• I Have No Hesitancy - 5%

Risk Catalysts - What would make you more comfortable taking thoughtful, well-considered work-related risks?

• Less-than-ideal outcomes being commended and not having a negative effect on career. - 49%

• Leadership Direction and Support - 31%

• Already Comfortable Taking Such Risks - 8%

Note: Responses have been grouped by category. Respondents were provided an open ended essay format for their responses with no suggested answers provided.

Perceived Condition

The great majority (61%) of those responding said they were being encouraged to take more risks. The balance, in pretty much equal proportions, said there had been no significant change in the last few years (21%) or they were being encouraged to take fewer risks (18%).

Clearly, the leadership of the organization had sent the message that more risks needed to be taken.

Risk Hesitancy

When asked about their primary source of hesitation in taking work-related risks, almost six in ten (59%) said the implications of failure.

The second most common response was provided by only 14% and centered on a their perceiving a lack of permission, leadership, support or organizational capability as making them hesitant to take risks.

Five percent said they had no risk hesitancy. The balance of the responses fell into many categories but focused on time and resource constraints.

Risk Catalysts

When asked what would make them more comfortable taking thoughtful, well-considered work-related risks, fully eight in ten said either assurances that less-than-ideal outcomes would not negatively effect their regard or career (49%) or clear direction and support from leadership to take risks (31%).

Eight percent reported that they were already comfortable taking risks. As with risk hesitancy, the balance of the responses fell into a variety of categories but again focused on time and resource constraints.

Insights

The message of the respondents is clear.

The survey data shows that the respondents were calling out for permission to take risks and a clear understanding that unsuccessful risks would not hamper their opportunities, regard or advancement.

The clear conclusion is that people who take thoughtful, well-considered risks have to be lauded, regardless of the outcome of the risk.

If you want to increase initiative and innovation, you have to encourage and embrace failure. A culture that punishes less-than-ideal risk-related outcomes will stifle both initiative and innovation.

Action Steps

Increasing initiative and innovation requires five simple steps.

"A Culture of Screw-Ups"

Increasing the level of effective risk-taking, initiative and innovation in an organization is not a short-term process. Risk inclination and risk tolerance are core elements of an organization's culture. It is part of what defines the organization. But it can be gradually changed by implementing the steps above, being consistent in emphasizing the importance to the organization of taking thoughtful risks and rewarding initiative and innovation.

If you are questioning the value of a culture that encourages risk-taking as a path to success, consider this statement by Scott Bedbury as reported in Newsweek. Bedbury was head of advertising at Nike for seven years in the 1990s. He says the key to Nike's success is its willingness to embrace "a culture of screw-ups. It really does learn from its mistakes." An insightful comment about Nike - one of the most successful and innovative companies of our time.

(c) 2004, Jim McCormick. All rights in all media reserved.

About The Author
Jim McCormick draws on his experience as the former Chief Operating Officer of an international design firm, an MBA and a degree in engineering to help organizations improve performance. He is co-author of Motivational Selling, editor of 365 Daily Doses of Courage and author of the forthcoming book Seize Opportunity - A Practical Guide to Exploiting Opportunities. More information is available at http://www.TakeRisks.com.