Dec 16, 2009
Are you an Innovator? Take the test..
Being an Innovator is like being a mathematician.
Everyone has some math capabilities, ask us to solve basic mathematical problems or calculate our share of the items on the bill at a restaurant and we can, but math is not our passion. It’s not where we flow.
And building a company with nothing but mathematicians would be very bad. Sure, the jokes would be funny, but even Intel needs a rich diversity of employees.
Its the same with innovators, we don’t all have to be one; being an innovator is not better than being a mathematician, linguist, artist or a thousand other things you could be.
But how can you tell if you are, at your core, an innovator?
I think a good place to start is by going through this list that Saul Kaplan has kindly put together and asking yourself if these are core beliefs that drive you every day.
- Innovators think there is a better way.
- Innovators know that without passion there can be no innovation.
- Innovators embrace change to a fault.
- Innovators have a strong point of view but know that they are missing something.
- Innovators know innovation is a team sport.
- Innovators embrace constraints as opportunities.
- Innovators celebrate their vulnerability.
- Innovators openly share their ideas and passions, expecting to be challenged.
- Innovators know that the best ideas are in the gray areas between silos.
- Innovators know that a good story can change the world.
via 10 ways to recognize the innovators in your organization.
