Lets face it: being called an "innovator" can sound pretty cool (unless you're a Muslim cleric). Don't be fooled into thinking that you can only be born an innovator, though, for there are ways to measurably become one, argue innovation think-heads Dyer, Gregersen, and Christensen in their insightful book, The Innovator's DNA.
Over 8 years of researching hundreds of entrepreneurs and innovators at the top of their game, the trio have decomposed the essence of the successful innovators to, what else, personality traits. The five they delve into are below:
I think one other trait I would venture (no pun intended) to add here is good old fashioned courage. I feel that while all the above 5 traits are essential ingredients to make a good innovator, without the courage to step into uncharted territory and to challenge prevailing ideas, your forays into innovation can collapse and worse, your morale may take serious hits, hindering any future potential trials at innovating.
So, can you become an innovator extraordinaire? There is mounting evidence from the top thinkers in this space to confidently suggest that you can.
Be courageous. Talk to people about their pains and frustrations. Look to successes in different industries to see if you can transfer them to your own. Invest in upping your public-speaking and communication skills. Trust yourself. Test your assumptions vigorously and be brutally honest with yourself.
In closing, I'd like to share a video interview that the Canadian Innovation Center had with two of the authors of The Innovator's DNA.
Over 8 years of researching hundreds of entrepreneurs and innovators at the top of their game, the trio have decomposed the essence of the successful innovators to, what else, personality traits. The five they delve into are below:
- Associating
- Questioning
- Observing
- Networking
- Experimenting
I think one other trait I would venture (no pun intended) to add here is good old fashioned courage. I feel that while all the above 5 traits are essential ingredients to make a good innovator, without the courage to step into uncharted territory and to challenge prevailing ideas, your forays into innovation can collapse and worse, your morale may take serious hits, hindering any future potential trials at innovating.
So, can you become an innovator extraordinaire? There is mounting evidence from the top thinkers in this space to confidently suggest that you can.
Be courageous. Talk to people about their pains and frustrations. Look to successes in different industries to see if you can transfer them to your own. Invest in upping your public-speaking and communication skills. Trust yourself. Test your assumptions vigorously and be brutally honest with yourself.
In closing, I'd like to share a video interview that the Canadian Innovation Center had with two of the authors of The Innovator's DNA.
In the words of Dr. Hal Gregersen:
We don't have to be famous to get great results - we just have to engage [in] the actions [listed above] in order to get the same sorts of [innovations] happening.
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