Innovation may seem like a new buzzword, but it’s a concept as old as the discovery of fire … it’s a process to more efficiently and effectively reach a desired outcome. In upcoming webinars, in books, in articles and at water coolers all around the world, business and training leaders are taking innovative approaches to managing innovation. So here’s a hard question, at least for many people: When’s the last time you were innovative?
It’s a tough question because innovation isn’t easy, especially for busy people. When the workload is immense, it’s often easiest to simply tread water and make do with the way things are. That may not be the best approach in the long-term, but it’s one that’s easily understood.
So let’s talk about a new concept now: The innovative use of innovation. It’s looking like 2012 is going to be the year of innovation – it’s certainly a hot conversational topic – so now is probably a good time to be ready for what’s next. Don’t sit and wait to react, innovate yourself.
Here are five basic ideas that hopefully will spark some innovation on your end:
- Start with the obvious: Think of something new. That’s pretty much what innovation is, a new outlook on life or business or whatever. Surely you remember the old Thomas Edison quote about genius being 99% perspiration and 1% inspiration. With all due respect to Tom, it’s time to rewrite that ratio. Having the inspiration (or the innovative idea) in the first place is the real breakthrough; realizing that vision becomes a labor of love. Is it easy to sit down and think of something new? Of course not. Is it time well spent when that metaphoric light bulb goes on? Of course.
- Improve something old. This is the other half of that coin and it’s what keeps inventors up at night. What around you needs a new view, a new approach, a breath of fresh air? Take an existing idea, spin it around, and look at it from a new angle. People daily find inspiration in the world around them. Smart people also find ways to make that world work better for them. Want a political example? How many presidential candidates before Bill Clinton would have told jokes with David Letterman and Jay Leno? Do you think anyone will get elected now without working the talk show circuit?
- Do something different. This is really a corollary to the last point, but it’s also worth breaking out on its own (what an innovative approach!). Try forcing some innovation on your organization through reengineering. Take a process of your workplace, and change it up. Keep the same end goal in mind (unless that’s where the innovation is needed), but find a new way to get there. Maybe it’s as simple as converting a telephone-based staff meeting into a virtual online meeting as a way of forcing technological advancement. By breaking old patterns, you’ll be forcing the placement of thinking caps, and who knows what happens next.
- Partner up. Innovation can be the product of individual thinking, but it’s perhaps more frequently generated by the wisdom of crowds. So find a partner, pal. Whether you’re working with a colleague, an expert or a supplier, be sure to benefit from team thinking. Brainstorming sessions are always good, and be sure to actively support the “no stupid ideas” rule: An idea that doesn’t work can still be the catalyst for one that does. Encourage input, reward effort and don’t just think “outside the box”; remember that there is no box.
- Leave it alone? Not to sound like the “all change is bad” guy, but sometimes you have to live by the old adage, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” A big part of creating innovation is recognizing when to innovate and when to ride the wave that’s already heading to shore. Different isn’t necessarily bad, but new isn’t necessarily better either. Before you start tinkering with systems, processes and approaches, be sure to have at least a loose roadmap in mind to point you where you want to go. You don’t want to be imprisoned by that road map, but you also don’t want to wander the countryside aimlessly. Recognizing the need for innovation is really the first step.
I’m going to share two resources with you to help you think more about innovation. In the weeks ahead, TrainingIndustry.com is presenting several programs that might help you think more about the undiscovered idea.
First up, we’ll kick off the 2012 Executive Seminar Series of online programs on Monday, Jan. 23, when Dartmouth professor Chris Trimble, co-author of “The Other Side of Innovation,” presents a session on “Leading Innovation: From Imagination to Impact.” Find out more about that session and other 2012 topics in the Executive Seminar Series at www.trainingindustry.com/seminars.aspx.
Next month, TrainingIndustry.com is presenting a Feb. 15 webinar on “Creating a Culture of Innovation,” presented by Dr. Stephen Shapiro, author of the new book, “Best Practices Are Stupid: 40 Ways to Out-Innovate the Competition.” Register for that event at www.trainingindustry.com/webinars.aspx.
This is clearly a conversation worth extending, and I hope you’ll both join the events and in the meantime, share your thoughts on innovation here on this blog posting. Consider questions like these: Does your organization innovate enough, or too much? Does innovation occur naturally, or can it be forced? Is innovation led from the top, or do innovative ideas rise upward?
I’d also love to hear about any innovation that’s inspired you. That’s often the spark that starts the fire.
