May 30, 2016

Make way for innovation!

Posted By: Fiona

How can you cultivate space for innovation?

Jenny Brockis’s blog Desperately Seeking Innovation reminds us:

“Innovation takes time, some thinking space and a willingness to try something out knowing it may not work…The way forward lies in developing our fluid intelligence – our ability to use our cognition (conscious thought) and insight coupled with our innate sense of child like curiosity and willingness to explore.”

This is all too true. Yet most of us cram our lives and brains so full we don’t leave any space for innovation to sprout. And we think it’s important to be “in control”, meaning we’re afraid to let go and see what might emerge.

Think about it. We’re actually in control of very little. Despite our best plans, outside factors are in a constant and rapid state of flux. We need to continuously adjust our approach or we’ll waste energy heading in the wrong direction. With the influence of technology this rate of change is ever-increasing, meaning trying to predict and control is more pointless than ever. Rather we need to constantly observe, widely and deeply, inside and outside our area of knowledge, make sense of our observations, and respond in a creative and agile manner. And most importantly, while we’re doing this we need to maintain our sense of direction – our north star or higher purpose – so we can check we’re still heading the right way.

So…what can you do to cultivate space for innovation?

1. Figure out your higher purpose – the difference you want to make in the world

Do this for yourself and your organisation
Leverage the ways your personal, role and organisational purposes complement one another
Continuously check your decisions and actions, both individual and collective, are taking you in this direction

2. Be relentlessly curious

Establish systems and processes to gather timely information about what’s going on. That means inside you, your team, your organisation, the part of society in which you operate, and areas outside those with which you usually connect. You never know when a threat or opportunity might be coming at you from left field, and if you’re scanning your environment you’re more likely to see it earlier. Some of the most exciting advances come from learning from what seems to be a disparate field. Biomimicry, anyone?

3. Create space for reflection in your schedule and brain

Set aside regular time for individual reflection. This could be journaling, going for a walk, swimming…any activity you enjoy and in which you can let your mind wander freely
Take up a brain-quietening practice such as mindfulness meditation or yoga. These help you to make better use of your reflection time plus be more present and creative when focusing on a task
Make sure you have regular quiet time. “Science Says Silence Is Much More Important To Our Brains Than We Think” explores the latest discoveries about the effects of silence on the brain. Regular periods of silence have been shown to promote growth of brain cells associated with memory, emotion and learning. Quiet also allows your brain to “think about profound things in an imaginative way”. It “releases tension in the brain and body” better than listening to relaxing music, and allows your brain to restore some of what is ‘lost’ through exposure to excess noise. Be mindful of the sensory environment you’re creating for yourself and those in your organisation
Introduce practices such as case clinics for group reflection. Case clinics are regular small-group meetings with a specific structure, in which one person describes a complex challenge and the others help to reflect on it

4. Leverage your organisation’s creativity

You’re not in control, and even if you were, you haven’t the bandwidth to manage everything yourself. Nor do you have a monopoly on good ideas. Accept that and introduce ways to listen to and act upon your organisation’s ideas. Let go of the need to be in control and replace it with the intention to listen, align and support
Be willing to accept failure as an inevitable part of innovation. Not every idea will succeed. Few will succeed the first time. If you’re afraid to fail you’re going to crush creativity…and probably your organisation’s future. Rather embrace failure as a necessary part of innovation. As Thomas Edison said of his invention of the light bulb:

“I have not failed 10,000 times. I have not failed once. I have succeeded in proving that those 10,000 ways will not work. When I have eliminated the ways that will not work, I will find the way that will work.”

Cultivate space for innovation and it will grow.

Like help becoming more innovative? Reach out

Posted By: Fiona
Posted In: Business, Creativity, Employee engagement, Innovation, Leadership, Listen, Reflection

"The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why"

Finding Your Purpose – Why and how to do it