Many people I speak to think that everything is smooth sailing and happy within the walls of innovative companies. But in fact, the opposite is mostly always the case.

The most innovative companies, and the ones with strong cultures – good cultures – see a lot of tension. The tension, challenging, questions, probing, testing that goes on helps them achieve better outcomes: and it is necessary in order to get to the end state.

During the process tempers can get fraught, and things can become heated: but the key is always respectful, open, discussion (rather than slander and mud-slinging). Respectful tension is great, it means youre on the right lines.