We keep hearing from our government that America has be innovative; we need to create new things. Innovation is, indeed, a vital component of economic progress. It is the driver for growth, for more competitive offerings among companies and countries, and a means for the creator (more typically, the creator’s company) to prosper. The problem is you really can’t engineer innovation. The most you can do is to increase the odds of it occurring.
Drs. Dyer, Gregersen,and Christensen have written a new book, The Innovator’s DNA (Harvard Business School Press). It may yet become a business bible, akin to Tom Peters’ and Bob Waterman’s In Search of Excellence Like Peters & Waterman’s book, this is based on a multi-year (eight, in this case) study, but this time it’s not of companies and leaders, but of some 5,000 entrepreneurs and executives that span the globe.
These ‘disruptive innovators’ have five common traits (as perceived by the authors): questioning, experimenting, observing, associating. and networking. That is what churns inside them, which stokes their willingness to take risks and curiosity. It is this curiosity about all things that provides the ability to make idea-producing, innovative connections- concepts and processes from different disciplines, which they coalesce to yield their new products and systems.
It’s how we managed to cross-fertilize our product design efforts from water reuse to hemodialysis, from neurosurgical tools and monitors to respiratory systems, from food production to container and sprayer designs. We saw the straight lines- even if our clients did not.
This continues to be one of our primary missions to this day. To work with clients to help them create new products, to erase the bottlenecks and impediments that are stopping their new product and process development. Creativity is the ability to discern patterns and relationships from one field of endeavor and apply it to a completely different arena, yielding the desired result.
Given his recent death, we are all familiar with Steve Jobs (one of the US’ most creative individuals) in his 2005 commencement address to Stanford University (thankfully recorded; it is among one of the most watched YouTube videos). His sign-off was a charge to be innovative in work and in life, to be curious, to experiment, to take risks, to stay hungry, and to stay foolish. Whether you are an Apple fan or not, it’s one that must be repeated and repeated.
25 Elul 5771
Here here Roy. Innovation – all around the world.
That’s the only way this economic crisis can be alleviated, Janine!
One reason behing the economical crisis in Europe where I live is the fact that there is no innovation. Working in the field of international fashion instead of seing a tendency to create, to innovate to dare doing what was not done before, we see exactly the opposite. Everyone is dressed in the same way, everyone drives the same cars and uses the same cel phones.
What if each one of us dared to do what is not ” usual” in his or her everyday life thinking of what could serve us the most, in a small scale?
The only innovation that I see clearly worldwide is in the methods the finance industry employs to collect more funds and to eke out more money from each crisis. If we spent as much money trying to encourage productive efforts, Patricia, then the world would be in a much better economic condition.
True. We need to actually be doing what needs to be done rather than just talking about it. Great post!
Melinda, it is so much easier to talk about it than to deal with it. That seems to be the norm nowadays.
Thanks for your comments.
Roy
Great post, Roy, and you’re right, innovation cannot be engineered, but it certainly can be encouraged, which I hope our country tries to do more.
Innovation does need encouragement. Which means research grants. Which does not seem to be in the cards, since we have a party that believes that investment in America only means tax cuts for the rich and reduction in investment in America.
Roy
Hi Roy: Sadly, too often the most innovative are those who use that in self-serving ways. I’ve often said that if the scammers of the world used those brains for something truly worthwhile, imagine how much we would all benefit.
Steve Jobs was a remarkable man. I love his quote from the Stanford commencement where he said, “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” Love that.
Glad you like the post, Cathy! And, thanks so much for your comments.
And, yes, we must all try to direct our innovative forces to be the forces for good for the world.
Roy
Interesting the 5 qualities they identify – the very that most politicians, teachers and PTBs seek to limit and control.
How else can anything move forward if we fail to give it a try.
Great points, Roberta.
Yet, many say- we are “fostering innovation”…
Roy
Wow! Thanks for these book recommendations and I love those traits you share, Roy. They truly sound like a recipe for success in creativity. I hadn’t thought so much about how networking plays a part in innovation, but it makes so much sense because we learn so much from each other and especially when we bounce ideas off of each other. Love the call to remember Steve Jobs’ wisdom. =)
Samantha:
No man (or woman) is an island. And, we each rely on those that preceded us, who helped make our “Eureka” moments possible.
Thanks for bringing that forward.
Roy
Well said and very insightful Roy! Innovation has kept this country building and growing for decades. If we lose sight, it could be, as you say, further increase our economic woes. But don’t you think we need leadership to inspire and promote innovation. Need support and promise to back young minds through education and so forth? That seems to be an area that could be improved….
Lynn- you said a mouthful!
I wish we could TEACH innovation. The guarantee is that we can teach folks to unfetter those that can innovate, can teach folks to recognize those that can, and to recognize innovative forces. But, it’s not clear we are doing that either!
Roy
Innovation, as you pointed out with your great illustration of the philosophy of Steve Jobs requires some essential ingredients. But it is the thing that helps us create what’s next. Helping each other own our gifts and talents, supporting each other to reach for our dreams and, as you are doing with your clients, clearing the way to make room for creativity and innovation…all worthy actions and goals. Gotta love creativity!
Great point, Tambre! Thanks for making it clear!
This sounds like an interesting book, Roy. I think innovators need to have a natural curiosity and an inner drive to create. I agree with the 5 traits that you said were listed in the book. Unfortunately, many people lose this curiosity and desire to create as they pass through our public education system.
I thought it was, Janette. And, the trick is to use it- like folks did with Peter’s and Timmberhaus’ tome.
Roy
Such a perfectly timed post! Innovation is what has moved mankind forward through thick and thin. As a teacher I was soooo frustrated at the lack of opportunity to teach children to THINK rather than just repeat. As a coach….I am in LOVE with the opportunity to pull people to their own insight and creativity and outward thinking.
Another fabulous post Roy.
Glad you liked it, Bonnie.
It’s been percolating in the queue for about 3 weeks. I need to figure out if I need a second blog to post things sooner 🙂
Thanks for sharing your perspective on this book! I’ll have to hunt up a copy and check it out. I am really curious to uncover more about the traits that characterize innovators. I am interested in reading more about what the researchers uncovered. Fascinating topic. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
You will enjoy the book, Steve!
It’s not going to teach you anything, per se, but will make you more aware of your moments when the attributes are glaringly obvious. And, to capitalize on those instances.
Roy
Like Bonnie, I’m a teacher and a coach and have experienced similar feelings in both professions. As a teacher, though, I did focus on individual differences, unique learning styles, personalities, etc. and did my best to foster creativity and the traits that “disruptive innovators” have. I LOVE this quote from Steve Jobs/Apple: “Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules, and they have no respect for the status-quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify, or vilify them. But the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Unfortunately, these traits are often squashed and made more “appropriate.” But I don’t believe in doing that. I believe in letting them thrive and grow. Maybe because I’m a “crazy one” myself :).
I knew we had something in common, Leanne!!!
My teachers were forever trying to “normalize” me. And,to be honest, I am more ‘normal’ than I was before. But, just barely… 🙂
Roy