“How Do Innovators Think?” September 28, 2009
by Bronwyn Fryer
I agree with Dyer saying that “associating, questioning, ability to closely observe details, ability to experiment, networking” are qualities that distinguish innovators. Dyer says that “associating is the key skill.” Sounds right for me, though I would say that innovative process starts with the questioning first of all. I liked the words Dyer about “problem is that even the most creative people are often careful about asking questions for fear of looking stupid, or because they know the organization won’t value it.” I think it is true. Ability to look on things from other side, turn everything upside down and came up with fresh innovative idea starts with questioning “why this is like that but not another way?” “What’s going to happens if we change the order?” Very often we think but afraid to think “loudly” being scared look stupid; and then idea stays only idea”.
I totally agree with the part of the article than Gregersen says about atmosphere that helps to develop innovative abilities in children “entrepreneurs were very lucky to have been raised in an atmosphere where inquisitiveness was encouraged”. We know that there are some factors helps to develop creativity: passion, good mentor or teacher, a lot of practice. Let’s remember Mozart who had his father making him practice a lot. I think we can think about developing inquisitiveness in the same way. How to help kids do not loose this questioning in the childhood? How to make people to believe that asking stupid questions is the first step to innovation? This is pretty difficult question. Some people are so passionate about their fields that do not afraid look stupid, sometimes we call them “weird or strange.” It seems that a lot of companies now would be happy to hire people like that.
