Innovation happens in life’s spaces
07/05/2010, Author: Ruth Williams
When working with all kinds of organisations on increasing innovation I regular find myself asking individuals ‘when do have your most innovative and creative thoughts?’ Responses frequently include:
• In the bath
• When I’m out going for a run
• When I’m driving home
• When I’m out walking the dog
• Over a drink in the pub
So, we, the leaders of innovation, need to review these sorts of responses for common themes and consider how we can replicate the recurrent factors in situations where we want to enable innovation. Drawing on my own experience I believe these are:
• A distraction from the ‘innovation activity’ – these ‘eureka’ moments occur in the peripheries of our focus
• A sense of physical relaxation often achieved through either or both habitual routine activities or exercise that requires repetition
• An absence of pressure or stress related to time or status – we are free to just ‘be’
So, how can we build this into the work environment? We can divide options into the short and long-term.
The long-term is about enabling our workforce to develop a level of self-awareness about how they personally access their innovative thinking. This can be achieved through workshop discussion about options and encouragement to ‘try-out’ various ideas until they find out which ones fit. Ideas could include:
• With an innovation question lightly in mind take a long walk – one that allows you to wander rather than follow a pre-determined path is often more effective
• Attend meditation classes or the more relaxation focused forms of yoga classes where you can learn how to clear the mind, let go of stress and make full use of the peripheral thinking
• Make time in your weekly activities to ‘watch the flowers grow’ rather than moving from one activity to the next and in between watching TV or using the computer. Some of the most innovative people will be able to describe to you a particular space they like to go and sit in to just relax and think. This could, for example, be in a park or looking out to sea. A natural environment with a clear view to the horizon is often most beneficial
In the short term we, as leaders, can aim to create an environment that draws on what happens in the innovative spaces in people’s lives. It should:
• Allow for the time pressure to be lifted – schedule innovation as far in advance as possible with flexibility about the length of sessions
• Encourage people to change the venue for their innovation meetings – a coffee shop or a discussion whilst taking a stroll with a colleague can often be more fruitful
• Allow people to find their own personal ritual preparation for innovation. This may include using certain pens or materials or spending time reading before a discussion
• Provide comfortable chairs, the option for music and other environmental adaptations that people can choose to use and will be more readily associated with an informal place
As the innovation leader, the more you can learn about and understand what makes your ‘team tick’ in relation to their personal innovation spaces the more accurately you can tailor your efforts in creating the most conducive conditions. As with many of our hints and tips on this topic, making the time to have conversations with your innovative individuals about what they want rather than ‘second guessing’ will always be your best starting point and will often lead to the most efficient use of your time.
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