In a knowledge-based economy innovation plays a prime role. Several examples show new and small organizations completely disrupting the status quo and beating their bigger and established competitors by their innovative approach to business. These innovative organisations enjoy superlative valuations in the stock market, attract customers and emerge as a talent magnet for intelligent and creative professionals.
Can creativity and innovation be cultivated? Or are they genetic traits? Recent studies reveal that innovation, like other skills, can be developed by practice. Researchers have identified a few common traits found among world-class innovators. Let's look at some of them:
Challenging the status quo
Innovators profess the ability to question and challenge the status quo. They have the conviction and the courage to take the road less travelled, well aware of the risks they might need to handle during the travel. Take the classic example of Charles Lindbergh, the first person in history to be in New York one day and in Paris the next.
Lindbergh's ambition was to fly non-stop from US to Europe, a distance of 5,800 km. When he reviewed the planes available in the 1920s, he found to his dismay that most of them weighed over 25,000 pounds. These planes had the standard leather trimmings, three engines, several radio sets, and so on. He realised with all this unnecessary paraphernalia, any plane he chose would prove unsuitable for his maiden attempt. To succeed, he needed a plane with a single engine, no windshield, essential night-flying equipment, raft, radio and such basic amenities. Lindbergh thus challenged the very foundation of the aircraft design industry of his time.
Unfortunately, the manufacturers were reluctant to make any changes in design. They cited convention and standards. Lindbergh, though disappointed, did not lose hope and, after much search, identified Ryan, a top designer who was willing to design an aircraft as per his specifications. On May 21, 1927 Charles Lindbergh made his maiden flight and earned a permanent and prominent position in the aviation industry.
Connecting the Dots
Innovators have the uncanny ability to connect the dots. In other words, they have the knack of linking up seemingly disparate things to arrive at innovative solutions. This is because they can leverage both the logical left brain and the creative right brain effectively.
It’s interesting how Kekule, a renowned French scientist, discovered the chemical structure of benzene. Kekule was working on this difficult problem for several days but could not arrive at an appropriate solution. After a particularly exhausting day of work at his laboratory, he went to bed and, in a dream, saw a vision of a snake swallowing its own tail. This provided him the insight for the discovery of the benzene structure.
Michelangelo, one of the greatest innovators in the human history, was a multi-faceted personality. Apart from being a world renowned sculptor and painter, he also was a distinguished architect and military engineer. With so many facets to this personality it is no wonder that he could produce masterpieces like David and Last Judgment. Michelangelo had the ability to connect the dots between disciplines and produce outstanding works of art.
In more recent times, Steve Jobs has mentioned how his interest in the art of calligraphy during his student days proved an immense help when he was designing the early Apple Macintosh computers.
Iterative process
The popular image of innovation depicts brilliant insight from a genius scientist. Newton and his apple is an apt example. Oftentimes, though, innovation is the result of constant experimentation; it is a trial and error approach. Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald Corporation, is a great example of innovation through iterative processes.
Ray Kroc was not the original founder of McDonald, he was multi-mixer salesman who sold his mixers to a tiny restaurant run by two brothers Dick and Mac McDonald. Ray was impressed by the small enterprise. He joined the brothers and eventually bought them out.
Ray then experimented with many processes in the supply chain system which went on to become industry standards. His relentless focus on the core values QSCV (Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value) resulted in many an innovation. Ray institutionalised the process of innovation in his company and with his franchisees. Some of the most popular menu items, like Big Mac and Fillet-o-Fish, were actually created by the franchisee partners. Another example to prove that innovation can be learnt and cultivated.
Talent diversity
In this fast moving Age of Internet, innovation is a sine qua non for success. Businesses and individuals who are not agile in reinventing themselves run the risk of ending up as obsolete as dinosaurs. Innovative techniques are constantly being evolved to devise new ways and methods for work and life.
Diversity of talent in organisations nurtures innovation. Similarly, individuals with diverse experiences are likely to bring with them a valuable creativity ecosystem, encouraging new ways of thinking that will ensure success.