Continuous improvement. Every leader wants it, yet most businesses believe they’re improving when they’re just doing business the way they’ve always done them. And this is where decay starts. Innovation has many enemies. One of them is an aversion to change. This plays out in an organization when people say “That’s the way we’ve always done it”.
Tag Archives: Creativity
Marc Andreessen: The 5 Personality Traits of An Innovator
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.
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.
How To Think What Nobody Else Thinks
Independent thinkers are highly valuable to both organizations and society. Breakthroughs in technology, new business models, and game-changing strategies don’t originate from conventional thinking. They originate from fresh and unconventional thinking. Thinking independently is crucial in today’s world where information is abundant and opinions are rampant.