I once heard from a colleague that trying was a kind of "rational justification for doing nothing." That phrase, which I frequently use in my training activities, was deeply engraved in my mind, reinforcing it with what it says: “Whoever wants to do something finds a way; who does not want to do anything finds an excuse ”. This Chinese proverb inspired me to start writing this article on innovation and creativity.
There are still many people who think that to start talking about a subject, theoretical definitions are necessary. In our case, it would be like a kind of obligation to start talking about innovation and creativity, establish coincidences and differences between the two, write down a theoretical definition of each, and be "clearer" of what we are talking about.
I have noticed in recent years, in which I have taught classes, talks or conferences in which we discuss innovation and creativity, that students or the general public expect (and even despair!) And rush to take the first thing They have at hand and write down the definition of what is innovation and creativity.
Moreover, although I pretend not to notice, when "that part of the definition" arrives, and more than one in the group or in the auditorium is distracted, he asks the person next to him "what did he say?", Looking almost with despair not to omit any word from the definition in (as if that was enough to justify…)
For these lines, I will follow the advice of a cordial friend (and why of my mentor) - Eduardo Kastika-, in the sense that it is necessary to be very cautious with the subject of definitions. From him I learned that the best way to introduce yourself to the subject of innovation and creativity is to avoid definitions. And it is not because there are differences or not, but because spending time getting a concept of each word is not the best way to approach innovation and creativity. At least, it is not the best way for someone who is looking for concrete tools to apply innovation and creativity in their organization or profession.
I would say the opposite is true: worrying about finding a definition is the perfect excuse for not dealing with innovation and creativity.
But well, if you still, dear reader, are one of those who always look for articles that make a “click” in their brain and “flash” it with a definition, well, I'm going to make it easy for you: (here comes the part from the definition, in case you did not notice it, uh…) innovation and creativity are tools that translate into the ability to achieve different results.
So that you had no doubts, I highlighted it with bold and underlined… And even then it is not enough… right? Of course not, because for certain topics, the definitions, rather than providing clarity, only generate confusion.
So, on this basis, we can ask ourselves now: how do we go about achieving different results? Well, the answer to this question can be synthesized through 3 objectives: we achieve different results when we do different things to ourselves, when we think differently and when we want to do different things in different ways.
Well, now I think I am beginning to arouse his interest as a reader and captivate him (at least a little!).
You will have already realized that we are talking about 3 instances: actions (we are talking about doing different things), thoughts (we say we must think in different ways) and intentions (yes, it is about wanting to do different things). In other words: we are talking about having a creative intention, and then developing creative thinking and later, implementing creative action.
So, dear "reader": Now do you realize why good intention is not enough? Now do you realize why the title of the article is more than loquacious? (Loquacious: without. Of eloquent, facundo, disecto, florido…) Yes, it is more than clear! As I heard my dear friend say, the challenge of intent is the challenge of motivation. "Why are we moving?"; "What motivates us?"; "What is stopping us?"; "What is it that discourages us?"
Many times we are going to get moving to think, only when we have a real need for "something" to work better than it is working so far; when we are presented with a disagreement; when there is a will to change; When there really is a feeling I know something is being problematic; when there is a creative intention, a predisposition to action. And because? Because we are looking to change the way of doing things.
And to change the way of doing things, we have to change the way of thinking. Which by the way, is not easy. As he was still sure he wanted some definition, to his liking I tell him that I consider thinking as a non-routine mental activity that requires attention and effort.
Although this is a “global” article, I cannot fail to introduce an example from my country. Argentines have been able to face many challenges, many obstacles. The devaluation, the bank runs, the financial "corralito", five different presidents in a week, the looting of supermarkets, the provincial "quasi-currencies", the spontaneous mobilizations throughout the country, the "cacerolazos", the roadblocks and the "pickets"… This seems like a summary of the Argentine history of several decades. But no, my dear reader. This occurred in less than eight years. Well then, if we live in a time of great changes. And this is in fact reflected in the market. And the consequences are increasingly important.
This only confirms what is happening anywhere in the world, which is having an important evolution, not only due to the prominence that our clients have acquired in recent times, but also due to the emergence of the Internet and new technologies. In the economic world, they have raised the need to create a new strategic vision that to date is difficult to predict its final scope and consequences.
And what happens is that our buyers, our consumers have taken the initiative, and that leads to change the way we were used to doing things. It does not necessarily imply changing the products we sell or services we provide. Furthermore, many times we make the same mistake that many companies make that say… "not because we have come with the same product for many years… we are going to change it"… and realize that the client did not want a change, that they ask for the old, the simple, what has nothing… and then they change it again…
Reality indicates that the correct way of acting in companies is to transform and adopt the different variables and strategies to the current demands of the market, since it is he who has really acquired the right to demand a new way of acting both the company and public bodies, in which awareness of the importance of the client and taxpayers, consumers and users is made. And begin to "worry" by understanding them and being able to provide precise answers to the needs that they manifest.
The first big problem that we commit when we want to introduce innovation and creativity in our organizations or professions is the same mistake that many companies make that simply say: "I have no ideas"… The issue is not that organizations do not have ideas, the problem is that ideas hardly travel, or are not directly implemented. And that especially happens in vertical organizations, with many hierarchical levels.
The ideas, the good ideas, are those that come from below, those of the personnel who are in direct contact with the client, or with the user of the service. The best ideas are those that come from day to day. But the problem is, we said, that ideas do not pass, and they transform… (And the first thing that transforms is the author of the idea!).
And actually, there is always a gap for some new ideas to develop. We are far from a state where we are saturated, because very successful ventures can always emerge from the world of ideas. And although it may seem difficult to find good ideas, we are at a time when "the troubled river" generates "profit for the fisherman". The current context is so dynamic and turbulent that it presents much more opportunities than just 5 or 10 years ago.
The first impression we have when we start to think is always frustrating, because it seems that "everything is already made up." Make no mistake: the more ideas are in circulation, the more opportunities are generated for the production of other new ideas.
It is time to start thinking. Don't stick with good intention. Take time from your schedule every day to think. You will see how rewarding it will be.
