What can we do as individuals to improve our innovation skills? The question here is what is it that make some people special? Is it an innovation gene that they have or some skill that they build? Of course, there's always going to be geniuses that walk among us but the question is can we increase our discovery skill-set and minimize the gap? The answer is yes. In this post I am going to talk about a few skill-sets that help individuals in improving their innovational ability.
Studies have shown there are five skills that one can work on to improve one's innovational ability. These skills can be improved through regular practice and exercise. So lets go through these five skill-sets and see what they are:
Studies have shown there are five skills that one can work on to improve one's innovational ability. These skills can be improved through regular practice and exercise. So lets go through these five skill-sets and see what they are:
Association
Association is the ability to make a connection between items that are not visibly correlated. To do so one needs to have a set of tools in one's toolbox. It is almost like Lego blocks. To do so the first thing is to fanatically collect and document your ideas. There are a number of inventors and entrepreneurs in recent and distant history that have done this. The lesson learned is to keep your ideas organized and documented; you never know how your brain is going to wire them.
Challenge the Status Quo
People that are innovative do not accept the status of "that is how we do thing here. Instead, they are looking for better, more effective solutions that in some cases even create totally new products or ways of doing things. In most of the cases, however, it's just an evolution of existing products with improved functionality, design or performance. Practice to observe and question solutions, think about weaknesses and how can they be improved. Human society is evolving only by constantly challenging and improving the present.
Curiosity
I do not know if you have ever practice 5Why's, but it is amazing what you learn by asking and digging slowly into the problem. With every step, the problem is peeled like an onion (learned that from the Shrek movie :). There is a great example in the book Lean Startup by Eric Ries.
Networking
This is very simple. Use your network not to sell your ideas but as a sounding board. Test your ideas by talking to your friends, partners and family members. Make sure that you capture feedback and that you seriously consider that same feedback. Different views on the problem, or solutions can move you in the right direction.
Experimentation
Interestingly enough there are two different types of experimentation. One that is physical that is usually done in labs. And the other one that is abstract and done in the inventors' mind. A great example of a lab experimenter is Edison, who had over 10,000 attempts before he created the light bulb. On the other hand, Nicola Tesla, an inventor from the same era, built his prototypes in his mind before actually starting the task of construction.
If you are serious about improving your innovation skill-set, make sure to set time aside and start practicing these tips. Till next time. Cheers.
Curiosity
I do not know if you have ever practice 5Why's, but it is amazing what you learn by asking and digging slowly into the problem. With every step, the problem is peeled like an onion (learned that from the Shrek movie :). There is a great example in the book Lean Startup by Eric Ries.
Networking
This is very simple. Use your network not to sell your ideas but as a sounding board. Test your ideas by talking to your friends, partners and family members. Make sure that you capture feedback and that you seriously consider that same feedback. Different views on the problem, or solutions can move you in the right direction.
Experimentation
Interestingly enough there are two different types of experimentation. One that is physical that is usually done in labs. And the other one that is abstract and done in the inventors' mind. A great example of a lab experimenter is Edison, who had over 10,000 attempts before he created the light bulb. On the other hand, Nicola Tesla, an inventor from the same era, built his prototypes in his mind before actually starting the task of construction.
If you are serious about improving your innovation skill-set, make sure to set time aside and start practicing these tips. Till next time. Cheers.
Personal development can be useful in achieving your goals in life. Moreover, it also aids in innovating your skills and knowledge for your work as well.
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