Are all innovators alike? Yes, in both personality and skills. Anyone can learn the skills necessary to innovate, but personality traits are different. Some people are born with highly developed curiosity, openness to new ideas and experiences, risk-taking, persistence, and imagination.
Tag Archives: Innovation
The Death Ground Strategy: Create A Sense of Urgency
Happy New Year! I want to set the tone for the 2024 first post this year: Acting with a sense of urgency.
There is no better way to do that than fighting with your back against the wall. This is called the death-ground strategy. Though initially a military tactic, this ancient strategy holds profound implications for personal and professional growth. The Death-Ground Strategy is based on placing oneself in a ‘do or die’ situation, where failure is not an option. In such scenarios, people often find untapped reservoirs of courage, determination, and focus.
The Curious Spark: Why Uncommon Insights Ignite Innovation
Imagine a world where every invention was predictable, every solution a mere derivative of what came before. Shudder, right? Innovation thrives on insights, those unexpected sparks illuminating new possibilities and guiding us toward groundbreaking ideas.
Seeing Opportunities Through the 4 Lenses of Innovation
Ideas don’t matter, execution does. Yes, of course. Ideas by themselves don’t have value unless they’re grounded on a unique insight or perspective. How do you generate unique ideas? Let’s look at four approaches from the book The 4 Lenses of Innovation: A Power Tool for Creative Thinking by Rowan Gibson.
The Blinding Power of Assumptions: How They Block Opportunities
A few weeks ago, I had a conversation with a business partner that served as a stark reminder of the dangers of assumptions. We were preparing for a visit to a prospective client, an industrial laundry owner, and I outlined my goals for the visit.
When You Shut Down Ideas Too Quickly, Your Best Innovators Take Their Creativity Elsewhere
Leaders who don’t create an environment where people feel safe and excited to share ideas will quickly be surrounded by people who don’t speak, and who will eventually leave. In the fast-paced world of business, the ability to innovate is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity for survival and growth. However, innovation doesn’t thrive in a vacuum. It requires a nurturing environment where ideas are welcomed and explored. Unfortunately, many organizations unknowingly stifle this creative spirit, leading to a significant loss: their best innovators taking their creativity elsewhere.
Focus on the Problem Customers Have, Not What the Competition is Doing
I recently had a conversation with a friend who owns a marketing agency. My friend, although very smart, has a very deep tendency to see what competitors are doing and is constantly reacting to what others do. This puts him, and his business, in a bad position. Most business leaders run their businesses the same way, looking at what others do.