GETTING REAL ABOUT INNOVATION
Today, being innovative is critical and in order to summon your most creative, innovate solutions, you need to first address any myths that might serve as barriers. One of the most pervasive obstacles to unleashing your authentic brain power is the assumption that you must be creative in order to be innovative. This self-imposed road block inhibits the kind of thinking you need to embrace. In this module learners will discover how “real people” can produce extraordinary solutions by first connecting with an individualized thinking style and then understanding how each style can get to the innovative “end game” taking slightly different yet equally effective paths.
THE CREATIVE PROCESS
“Before you can think outside the box, you have to have a box”. – Twyla Tharp. Getting to a brilliant solution requires an open mind, a willingness to be wrong and most importantly, a deep understanding of exactly the way things are in the present. Innovation fails when knowledge of current practices, habits, rules, and human dynamics are not fully known and accounted for. In this module, learners will leverage concrete tools and models in order to step “inside the box”. The view from within will inform the ideal way to step out. Simulations using a toolkit filled with resources will support learners in developing an innovative mindset.
THE CURIOSITY QUOTIENT
Extraordinary people share this craving…in fact it is an insatiable hunger… to know more and to understand why. They demonstrate relentless curiosity. The ability to take your mind into the open space of curiosity differentiates you from the person who “just knows the right answer”. Uncovering “why” it is the right answer; challenging “how” there might be an even better way; disrupting current practices, processes and ways of thinking are hallmarks of extraordinary leaders. In this module, learners are invited to stretch beyond the limitations of “the way things are” – and explore the way things could be. Curiosity is like a muscle that needs to be flexed regularly and this learning experience offers the optimal exercise routine to maintain an agile, open and curious mind.
THE RISKY BUSINESS OF INNOVATION
There is no question that some people are simply more risk averse than others. By nature, humans are hardwired to either prefer the “rush” of exploring uncharted territory or a more stable, predictable situation. The first step in discovering the realities of risk taking is to understand your appetite for it. What is your risk tolerance and how can it be adapted to the need for innovation and change? In this module, learners will unpack the correlations between resisting change and having a low risk threshold. Self-awareness will help to inform appropriate strategies to embrace risk head on – differentiating between calculated risk that results in positive change and reckless abandonment. As innovative thinking unlocks a host of creative solutions, the tolerance for change must increase and the fear of failure must proportionately decrease. If this doesn’t happen, then you could be faced with a whole host of exciting ideas that have no wings. Ideas that stay “grounded” out of fear. A solid strategy to lead through change is often enough to lower the risk, avert the fear and forge ahead with innovation. Part of the strategy includes knowing how to surround yourself with individuals who can support your ideas, navigate through the unknown with you and allow you to stay passionate about your convictions. Learners are encouraged to think about individual risk tolerance, appropriate change management practices and networking for optimal support in the context of driving innovation.