While others commit to feats of fitness, quitting a habit they quietly covet, or silently snub the tenacious tradition of selecting a New Year’s resolution…how about this year you INNOVATE!
Unsure how to tackle this challenge? Here’s a little insight to get started:
A major, six-year-long research study completed by professor Hal Gergerson, Jeffrey Dyer and Clayton Christensen, outlines five learnable skills you need to innovate. You may think that one’s capacity to innovate is based on an inherent ability – something you’re born with. But these researchers affirm that innovator’s are built. Gregersen says, “…in terms of creativity, we each have a unique set of learnable skills that we rely on in order to get to the ideas that will give us some insight.” (Gregerson, 2009) These skills are sure to boost your power for discovery.
THE 5 SKILLS:
Associating: Great innovators have an ability to relate seemingly unrelated pieces of information to build creative ideas. - Step 1 - Do something you never did before! Take a photography class, read a magazine you haven’t read before, go to the art gallery, read a biography on someone who is remarkable for doing something unrelated to your field - Look for patterns, congruities and similarities. Connect the dots.
Observing: Innovators observe intensely. Every interaction and experience is an opportunity to observe, learn and develop. Look at less and see more.
Experimenting: Test your ideas. Enthusiastically experiment! Don’t be afraid to take risks. Don’t be scared to try un-perfected ideas. Just, go for it!
Questioning: Succumb to your curiosity. Be humble in intellect. Craft questions that inspire the release of information you don’t have. Ask smart questions. Ask dumb questions. Just ask questions!...question after question.
Networking: Meld your thoughts with exposure to diverse and divergent experiences, opinions, perspectives and knowledge. Meet as many people unlike you as you can, and intently listen to them. Passionately pursue every opportunity to challenge your proclivity in thought.
In 2011, choose to be an INNOVATOR!
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Reference: Gregersen, Hal. 2009. The Innovator’s DNA. Article retrieved from: www.knowledge.insead.edu/innovation-innovators-dna-091221.cfm
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