In last week’s post, innovation was introduced. We described it as a rhythm of breathing.
We described it as something that begins with inhaling and then leading to an exhale.
Innovation is learning, designing, creating, modifying and sharing knowledge… This is the “raw material” of innovation. Innovation then continues with exhaling which is generating, implementing and executing innovative solutions.
Keep in mind, we all innovate. We create ideas and then execute them. Yet, each of us innovates differently. There are basically four major approaches to innovation.
Styles of Innovation:
Visioning: To envision the ideal future
Exploring: To discover the radically new and novel
Experimenting: To combine and test different factors
Modifying: To refine and optimize what has come before
To explore the four styles of innovation, it is important to look at three solid questions:
What stimulates innovative thinking?
How does the style support innovation? And
How might the style hinder innovation?
Let’s Explore
Each style asks a different question to stimulate innovative thinking:
Visioning: What ideas could give you an ideal, long-term solution?
Modifying: What ideas could build on, simplify, or refine what you’ve done?
Exploring: What ideas could be radically new and different?
Experimenting: What could be combined to give you new ideas?
Look at the different innovation styles to see how each style supports innovation and how the style may hinder innovation.
How does the style support innovation?
Visioning
By seeing the "big picture" and giving long-term direction
By supplying bold, far reaching, imaginative ideas
Modifying
By building on what has already been accomplished
By focusing on relevant, short-term success
Exploring
By questioning the accepted ways of seeing things
By seeking the new and novel, to see what's possible
Experimenting
By combining the ideas of many people in unique ways
By testing out ideas to take risks in stages
How might the style hinder innovation?
Visioning
By resisting options that don't fit into the vision
By being unrealistic about the level of change involved
Modifying
By being tied to the status-quo
By not questioning assumptions
Exploring
By taking risks where you "leap before you look"
By frequently changing perspectives and opinions
Experimenting
By losing perspective on what really matters
By over-emphasizing testing and research vs. action
Let’s look at how each style advances challenges and establishes goals:
Visioning | Modifying | Exploring | Experimenting |
A clear idea and purpose to drive new creative energy | Optimizing and changing what has been done previously | Adventuring into a new area to see what it possible | Using different choices to create many possibilities |
What values do each style bring out:
Visioning | Modifying | Exploring | Experimenting |
High ideals | Regular, common things for everyday | Words / actions to live by | Shared by many |
Start with one style. Get good at it. Then, move on to another style.
To learn more about the Innovation Styles, contact me at basharon@trainingedge.com. I look forward to hearing from you and to exploring how innovation is a key element in today’s workplace.
Barbara Ann Sharon
Chief Learning Officer - The Training Edge
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