Qualities of an Innovator
"Take creative chances. Learning to innovate isn't about being perfect; it's about being creative and having fun."—Tom Kelly
The Family is changing. To succeed, we all will need to be changing too. Every business has to seek and find new opportunities, create new products and advertising campaigns, update their methods and production lines. There is no way around change, innovation, and pioneering if anyone, us included, wants to be on the cutting edge, advancing into the future and scooping up the success that awaits them there.
The need for innovation applies to our personal goals, Home goals, and Offensive goals. What we did in the past will likely need to be adapted, tweaked, changed, or canned, and that's going to require innovation.
Here's something the Lord said in "Liftoff!" that highlights this point:
So since innovation is so key to reaching our Offensive goals, as well as our personal goals and Home goals, let's look at some of the basics.
When Ignorance Is Bliss
It's a pickle of a paradox: As our knowledge and expertise increase, our creativity and ability to innovate tend to taper off. Why? Because the walls of the proverbial box in which we think are thickening, along with our experience.
In other words, as you increase in expertise it becomes nearly impossible to look beyond what you know and think outside the box you've built around yourself.
This "curse of knowledge," means that once you've become an expert in a particular subject, it's hard to imagine not knowing what you do. When it's time to accomplish a task, those in the know get it done the way it has always been done, stifling innovation as they barrel along the well-worn path.
Thinking "out of the box"
Q: The term "out of the box" sounds good and we all want to be "out of the box," but how do we get there?
Humility, great desperation, and great openness of mind and spirit. These are qualities the Lord said are essential—no, rather, "fundamental"—to receiving fresh innovative input from Him.
Here's an excerpt of an article that lists some other basic qualities or characteristics which are common to innovative people.
Characteristics of an Innovator
If you're interested in learning to be more innovative, here is a list of characteristics that good innovators typically share:
- Open-mindedness
Innovation means exploring uncharted waters and being receptive to new ideas and methods, even if it's a bit uncomfortable. Sometimes you have to take a chance to achieve a breakthrough.
- Finding connections
Impressive innovation means being on the cutting edge and discovering connections that you weren't aware of previously—connections between the problem and an idea, solution and practical application.
- Keeping up
Top innovators keep abreast of developments in their field and elsewhere. They know what's going on in their field of expertise around the world. (Editor: What's your field or ministry? Are you informed, aware, and up to date on the best tools and methods available for the job?)
- Aligning support
Innovation requires a unified effort and the ability to work well with others. Outstanding innovators know how to sell their ideas to decision makers and have the ability to enlist the support of their colleagues [both within and out of the Family].
- Moving ahead sensibly
Skilled innovators can identify the differences between good and bad risks, and exercise foresight about the consequences for individuals and the organization.
- Going with the flow
Excellent innovators understand project management but don't get sidetracked by unforeseen circumstances or a change in plans. They are flexible and reasonable.
- Appetite for learning
Good innovators are not afraid to make mistakes on the way to figuring out something new. They view setbacks as learning opportunities. They analyze their successes and failures, seek feedback and move forward.
Jesus on "Innovation"
Weaken those assumptions
When you face a problem, your usual assumptions and mental habits usually determine what you will come up with as your solution. You go for the "obvious." However, this shuts down creativity, limiting you to solutions that are just variations on things you've done before. To become more innovative or creative, don't tend so easily or quickly to your automatic assumptions. Don't automatically go for the "obvious," the tried and proven, what you're comfortable with. Look for new ways to define the problem. Observe. Seek comments. Use "peer review." If the evidence [or the Lord or your co-workers' advice] shows that your product [or idea] won't sell or fly, don't ignore the facts. Refigure the situation and move on.
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"You cannot innovate without risk. It is simply part of the process. By failing often, you can succeed sooner—embrace that perspective so you can innovate."—Tom Kelly
Openness, Creativity, Expansion, and Growth
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