Increasingly in today's business environment the need to innovate has become a key for success. Innovation does not have to be the big patents or major product breakthroughs. Innovation can be figuring out how to do something better and more effectively, no matter how small or trivial the innovation may seem. What made Einstein, Edison and Leonardo da Vinci such prolific creators?
The problem with creativity is that it often is not tangible or measurable. The scientific experts tell us they don't know what it is but business people say it is becoming increasingly important in the workplace. Some countries and cultures have a different propensity toward innovation with some countries having little or no marketplace innovation.
Like morale and image, creativity becomes more accepted if it is kept in company conversations and meeting agendas. Since innovation is not a commodity, the rules for managing commodities do not apply here. That is why some of the biggest companies are the worst innovators. Reward creativity as soon as you see it.
Innovation centers around the free flow of ideas and questions. Any management system that creates obstacles for this flow is being counterproductive. The question to ask is "what can we do to become more creative and innovative?"
Creativity and innovation cannot be turned on and off like a faucet. One strategy is to let the creative juices flow when they flow naturally; when they are not turn to other tasks to get them out of the way.
When looking at your company's business model; try to define the constraints, limits and focus of your creative efforts. There are no limits but there are constraints...it is important your people know these.
Track your company's ideas and innovations on spreadsheets. This will let your people know you are serious about gaining a creative advantage.
If your people aren't interested in ideas and being creative, find new people that are. Hopefully you will hire these people before you go out of business.
It does appear that the free mind is also the creative mind. Harsh external conditions may in fact cause the creator to focus more on their own creativity.
Inquiring implies effort on the part of the learner. This takes the focus away from the self and shifts it to society and the world at large. People that are interested and busy pursuing those interests don't have a lot of time to sit and worry...
There appears to be some link between genes and interests but at this point there is not much known in this area. When an individual is able to follow their interests the genes and energy match up and it appears that creativity is also enhanced as well. That does not mean that by simply following one's interest one can induce creativity. It simply means that the set and setting is optimized and with the brain working at a furious pace ideas can be generated.
Jack D. Deal
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