The Twelve Roles of a World-class Social Innovation Alliance.
Because social innovation is a team sport.
The myth of the ‘hero entrepreneur’ has placed enormous strain on the shoulders of people who set out with good intentions to change the world. We recognise that social entrepreneurship is a team sport which is not solely about a single idea, individual, solution, or organisation.
The Latitude Project has developed a Social Innovation Framework which has been designed to allow social entrepreneurs to explore their full potential.
A core component of this program are the ‘12 superpowers of a world class innovator’. Superpowers are much like archetypes* and within our framework they reveal the entrepreneurs innovation strengths.
The social problems of the 21st Century are complex and require new approaches. By developing these “superpowers” throughout the innovation journey, we can help intrapreneurs and entrepreneurs explore new perspectives, experiences, outlooks, and skill-sets to tackle these challenges.
*Archetypes are patterns of behaviour that shape our cognitive and emotional capacity as people, which affect our ability to impact the lives of the people we’re helping.
The Myth of the ‘Hero Entrepreneur’
The Twelve Roles
The Enabler.
Leadership in social innovation is not about dominance. It’s about being a positive role model, building bridges, and prioritising the group and the greater good.
How are you embracing a mindset which relentlessly sets out to serve stakeholders and beneficiaries?
The Apprentice.
Every social problem should be approached with a sense of curiosity about what we don’t know, and in doing so this reveals a wealth of opportunities for collective learning.
Are you harnessing every stage of the innovation journey to gain a deeper understanding and unlocking what we call the SOCIAL CODE?
The Storyteller.
Narratives help to inspire and guide us as individuals, and collectively, but the breakdown of shared stories has exacerbated social divisions.
Are you propagating opportunities for diverse communities to participate in creating new stories, and sowing the seeds for transformational change at individual, local, cultural, and global levels?
The Visionary.
Inspired by the big picture and motivated by an inner purpose - this powerful fusion creates the visionary innovator. Imagination is a powerful asset - it allows us to dream new futures and infinite possibilities.
What do you think you’ll be capable of achieving through this innovation journey? How grand is your vision?
The Rebel.
Stability can breed complacency and conformity, but uncertain times demand maverick thinkers willing to shake up the status quo. Change is an essential part of progress and a successful transition requires disruptive ideas.
Are you a rebel who’s willing to diverge from the mainstream in pursuit of system change?
The Reformer.
The goal of social innovation is simple - solve social problems as efficiently as possible and maximise value creation. But not all solutions need to be complex, costly, or your own. The most efficient path might be to support an existing project.
What local initiatives are live, and how can you enhance them in a shared pursuit of social impact?
The Enquirer.
The ability to “unlearn” and drop preconceived ideas is critical to social entrepreneurship. So is the ability to empathise and ask big questions which tease out insights, help stories emerge, and ultimately get to the root cause of problems.
Do you have the capacity to listen intently to every conversational opportunity?
The Risk-taker.
When it comes to social challenges, it is mainstream ideas which often exacerbate problems instead of solving them. Now is the time to have courage and be bold in your aspirations.
When the pressure is on, are you prepared to back unconventional concepts?
The Wanderer.
Allowing our minds to explore every possibility is an important aspect of the ideas stage. Innovation often comes at the intersection of disciplines, as well as the combination of older ideas. The ability to recognise disparate patterns is a treasured skill.
Are you prepared to explore new territories with an open mind and see how everything connects?
The Technician.
The shape of a problem determines the shape of the solution and complex social challenges demand more than pre-determined and one-size-fits-all approaches. We think experimentation is a vital component to finding the best approach and embrace the lean startup methodology. The build, measure, learn cycle enables entrepreneurs to test assumptions, iterate, and pivot if necessary.
Are you ready to become a prototyper and design MVP’s to rapidly deliver social value?
The Map-maker.
Social problems exist because our ideas, stories, and systems have led us the wrong way. Good intentions lead us towards an action bias and we grasp at straws, looking to measure anything which might resemble progress. The map-maker can see beyond our blindspots and recognises coherent innovation that can collectively lead us towards safer ground.
How will you identify the metrics which reveal the complete social picture?
The Pioneer.
Social innovation will inevitably become a mainstream movement. Investing our time, energy, and financial resources towards solving real problems can become both sustainable and scalable.
Can you sense the opportunity to develop commercial applications to many of the social problems we face, and in doing so elevate your impact to a truly global scale?
