How can we learn from Christopher Columbus, Pablo Picasso, Aristotle, King Solomon, and John Rambo to succeed in an innovation project? We have to adopt their mindset to guide our thinking at the right stage of an idea project. Today, I invite you to study the five plus one Mindsets of Innovation that we use at THINKERGY to guide our clients through our proprietary X-IDEA Process.
1. The Explorer
The first innovation mindset that you need to adopt is that of an explorer. Curiosity, mental flexibility, ambivalent thinking and courage are the prime characteristics of an explorer. Not too long ago, many parts of the world were terra incognita, unknown territories. It was the job of an explorer to travel into the unknown terrain, gain new insights about the territory, and on returning home, share information so that a new, more accurate map could be drawn. Similarly, EXPLORATION is the start of every idea project. Begin your explorer’s journey by firstly expressing your initial understanding of the business challenge that you are facing. Then express what you know about the project and — more importantly — what you do not know yet about the situation (i.e., map out the familiar terrain and the knowledge frontier). Thereafter, explore the ambiguity of your unfamiliar knowledge terrain by using exploration tools to gain novel insights. Finally, after having acquired a better understanding of the situation, you are able to express your final challenge statement (or to “draw a new map”).
2. The Artist
As you move into the IDEATION stage, it is time to step into a new mental role: the artist. An artist in its closest definition is a person who produces paintings or drawings. Artists indulge their imagination and creativity and also show courage to suggest wild ideas. Now please imagine looking at a masterpiece of your favorite artist right in front of you. While you recall its beauty, don’t forget that in order to arrive at this final masterpiece, your beloved artist first produced many, many sketches and detailed studies. The vast majority of those sketches and studies were later discarded. When you ideate, follow a similar production process and focus first on creating many, many, many raw ideas. They will be your vital input material out of which you will compose truly good ideas.
3. The Alchemist
According to myth, an Alchemist has the power to transform something common (such as base material) into something special (like gold). Transforming common raw ideas into special real ideas is exactly what we aim to achieve in the DEVELOPMENT Stage. To do this job, we fall back on key principles of alchemy: discovery and experimentation based on trial and error. “Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen, and thinking what nobody has thought,” noted the Hungarian Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Albert Szent-Györgyi. We first need to discover intriguing raw ideas and then transform them into real ideas through experimentation and the help of special Idea Development Tools. This might take some time and effort — so recall the advice of the legendary US inventor Thomas A. Edison: “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Also note that a great alchemist first and foremost relies on a highly developed intuition and follows a radiant, experimental and creative mental process that differs significantly from the sequential, systematic and logical thinking of a scientist.
4. The Judge
A judge at court thoroughly evaluates the evidence presented by the accusing prosecutor and the defending attorney, and then makes a verdict on the case. This mental role serves us well in the EVALUATION Stage, where we have to evaluate the pros and cons of a set of relevant good ideas and then ultimately select the most meaningful and promising ideas for real-life implementation. Critical thinking, impartial judgment and courage to make the right decision are the most relevant traits of a good judge — at court and in an idea project.
5. The Warrior
“The world hates change, yet it is the only thing that has brought progress,” noted the famed US inventor Charles F. Kettering. Having filed over 200 patents in his life, he should know. All great minds had to overcome rejection and to fight against massive resistance after introducing a breakthrough idea to the world. So better get ready for our fifth mindset: The warrior. A warrior can be defined as a brave or experienced soldier or fighter. That’s exactly what you need to become to activate your great idea. In the final ACTIVATION Stage of the X-IDEA Process, you need to take massive action and fight to bring your great idea to life. Aside from courage, also exhibit the operational flexibility and practical creativity of the warrior to convincingly sell your idea. Also model the warrior’s careful but adjustable planning and preparation process ahead of a battle when you draft and re-adjust your idea implementation plan.
6. The Magician
If you systematically follow all of those five mental roles, you will be able to activate a hidden sixth mindset: The Magician. Magic can be defined as a quality that makes something seem removed from everyday life, especially in a way that delights. The magician is the culmination and result of all other five mindsets. Integrate all five mindsets of innovation in the right order, and you will be able to create magic and “Wow!” your customers.
© Dr. Detlef Reis 2007. This article was published in parallel in the Bangkok Post under the same title on 22 November 2007.