Measuring the innovative mindset
14/05/2010, Author: Luigi Paiano
Hello all and welcome to the last of our series of hints and tips to encourage innovation.
To finish the series, I’d like to pull together some thoughts that Ruth and I have alluded to over the past ten weeks. Specifically, I am referring to thoughts around what is commonly termed the ‘Innovative Mindset’.
As we have mentioned before, our research has enabled us to study a wide number of views on this fascinating subject. This has helped us shape and inform our thoughts when designing our workshops and holding consultations and discussions on innovation.
With much of the literature mentioning the innovative mindset, and some of it suggesting what makes up such a thing, we have used our background as occupational psychologists to establish what we feel are the key behavioural traits of an innovative mindset. We have identified nine traits, and I would like to share them with you in this last post.
1. Listening. Being prepared to take time to listen to other people. Having consideration for other’s opinions and being easy to talk to
2. External confidence. Being at ease with others. Having the ability to relax in groups and openly enter discussions
3. Creativity. Looking for new approaches, enjoying the trial of new ideas. Preferring to invent new methods over the application of old ones
4. Attitude to risk. Being prepared to take chances. Occasionally enjoying throwing caution to the wind
5. Internal confidence. Having inner confidence in abilities. A higher level of self esteem. Feeling self assured and valuing own worth
6. Personal development. Being keen to improve personally. Valuing and giving priority to training and development of new skills
7. Attitude to change. Liking to work within a culture of organisational change. Preferring innovation to tradition
8. Resilience. Not usually upset by criticism. More tough than emotional and able to take failure on the chin and move on
9. Originality. Motivated by having ideas implemented. Preferring a working environment that encourages originality
These traits can be present within an individual, or you could look at the wider organisation and consider the presence of these traits within its environment. Of course, not everyone will be great at everything or demonstrate a natural strength in each trait.
However - is it not useful to be aware of these fundamental elements to ensure that you are developing a mindset that encourages innovation at individual and organisational levels?
Surely having this awareness will help identify areas for development, areas of strength that can be promoted and utilised elsewhere. I would be delighted to talk further about this with you, but for now I just wanted to give you an insight into what we consider the elements of an innovative mindset to be.
I hope that you have found our ten tips informative and of use. Please, as always, do leave a comment or drop us a line if you would like to know more.
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