Watching my boyfriend’s four-year-old son play with Legos is always fun, but it was especially intriguing the other day. He was mixing up regular Legos, Mario Legos, and dinosaurs. I’m pretty sure his combination of toys and storyline was novel. It was a lesson in how innovation happens and how we can trust in the process.
"You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life." – Steve Jobs
My boyfriend’s son was using what he knew about Legos, what he knew about Mario, and what he knew about dinosaurs to create a genuinely innovative playtime story. Believe me, many hours went into the specialization in each of these areas, and here he was, connecting the dots to make something new and unique.
Too often, businesses will carve out time for their staff to ‘be innovative’. Employees will be tasked with coming up with as many innovative ideas as possible during a meeting or workshop and pressured to deliver quickly. This process rarely produces success. Think about the last time you had an ‘Aha’ moment. Were you in a conference room with your colleagues, or were you in the shower, running, reading, or doing yard work? Our brain makes connections when we least expect it. How often have you woken up in the middle of the night to email yourself a new idea or reminder of something to do the next day?
Creativity is an innate trait, but it can be dormant if unused and can be built up and strengthened by practice. Do something outside your comfort zone if you struggle with feeling creative or innovative. Visit a new part of town, read a book you usually wouldn’t pick up, learn a new activity like painting or making pickles. If you’re pressed for time, get started by doing something outside of your regular routine, like driving a different route home or trying a new takeout restaurant. There are endless ways to break out of your day-to-day routine. Start small, and you’ll soon discover many ways to fit creativity into your life.
Keeping your eye out for connections in your everyday life can lead to solving problems at work. United Airlines found that you can strengthen a process by learning from a completely different industry. Read, talk to colleagues and friends, talk to strangers in a grocery store; absorb information as you go about your day. Use what you learn to solve your biggest challenges.
Let's chat if you want to know more about solidifying a culture of innovation and continuous improvement in your organization. I love discussing innovation and how connecting culture and processes can lead to lasting success. Connect with Brooke Adamson at Brooke@AdamsonConsultancy.com and call or text (704) 517-3755.
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