What do you think when you see an apple? Yummy? A healthy snack that keeps the doctor away? Or perhaps, just a fruit, nothing more, nothing less.
When Isaac Newton saw an apple (falling), he discovered gravity.
How would you feel if you got fired? Down in the dumps and depressed? Or raring to go towards other open roads?
When founder Steve Jobs was fired from his own company, Apple Inc., he started another one called NeXT that Apple later bought for a sum of US$ 429 million in cash and a million and a half shares of Apple!
What sets these radical thinkers apart from the rest of the crowd? Are they just incomparable, inimitable geniuses? Thankfully, not all of them are thought to be so. Many of them are ordinary individuals, but with an extraordinary ability to tap into their latent ideas. This enables them to be more innovative than the rest.
In the same setting, around the same colleagues and with the same work on your plate on a daily basis, how do you infuse yourself with inspiration? Is it even possible to train the brain to be more innovative? Here are some possible habits and practices that can help you be more innovative at work.
How to become more innovative at work
1. Spare time to think
Spare some time every day to gather your thoughts. If you are busy every second of the day, it is difficult to think outside the box. While it would be counter productive to idle away spare time, you could steer your thoughts in a relaxed frame of mind. In that space, you will be able to separate the noise from the ideas - the useful and creative ones over the dreamy and unrealistic ones.
This could mean spending time away from all electronic devices. However, when you begin to think with a sense of purpose, it will unlock the brilliant ideas hidden behind your personal dogmas and prejudices.
2. Open your mind to new possibilities
The human mind is capable of coming up with a number of ideas all at once. Some of these ideas might seem preposterous at first, but many new or different ideas have been ridiculed as unscientific and impractical in the past. In fact, many innovations and inventions were delayed because of inflexible mind-sets. It is because it takes time for people to accept change. The idea’s time has not come.
Consider this:
The American inventor Thomas Alva Edison’s idea of a durable light bulb to light homes was not met with enthusiasm. Despite his 1,000 patents, not many people were inspired by this idea; they didn’t think it would be affordable for everyone.
Apple didn’t easily find takers for their iPhone. People were sceptical that it did not have a physical keyboard and so, would never take off!
3. Avoid comparisons
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह: ||
It is better to do one’s own dharma imperfectly than to do another’s dharma perfectly.
Happy people think about their own dharma rather than someone else's. At the end of the day, we have to be responsible for our own acts and how we behave, rather than worrying about someone else's behavior. When we look at ourselves, and work on what needs to be changed, and not constantly grade and compare, we will not obsess over the fairness or unfairness of things.
Innovation is a habit
Innovative people try to bring in changes that enhance convenience or efficiency in some small way in everyday things around them. They are constantly thinking of ways to be more creative at work. It could be a foldable yoga mat, coaster cum mobile phone charger or a backpack with a hoodie! You just have to be observant and caring about your surroundings and have a keen presence of mind.
Think of Greek mathematician, Archimedes, sitting in the bathtub when he came up with the principle of buoyancy. His discovery has helped the ship-building industry enormously. This is a tribute to his observation skills, application of thoughts to daily events, and ability to stay in the present moment.
4. Problems and failure present opportunities for innovation
It would be reasonable to expect most of your initial ideas to fail. Now, what really matters is how you approach these failures. For example, when American inventor Thomas Edison was asked about his 1,000 failed attempts to produce a working and cost-effective light bulb to light homes, his response was, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps."
If you count your failures as one more step towards success, you will lose fear of it. This attitude is one that will ensure you innovate freely and, eventually, successfully.
Quick tips to spur the innovative juices
- Brainstorming with a friend or colleague can help you break your mental barriers.
- Play a quick game or solve a puzzle. This can help you put on your thinking cap.
Don’t wait around for an idea to pop into your head. If you get stuck on one problem, keep working on something else, even if it is unrelated. Action rather than inaction, usually, precedes innovation.
Flow with the change. Don’t resist it. The beautiful thing about life is that it is sure to change. This means problems also don’t remain the same.
Build your skills, and keep your eyes and ears open. Before you can innovate, know what your present atmosphere and business scenario is like.
5. Meditate to innovate
Meditation encourages divergent thinking and creativity. It calms the inner chatter, creating an empty space within you. In this space, you are much more receptive to new ideas. Minus the inside noise, your thought process becomes clearer. You live in the present and most of all, you get in touch with yourself; this helps you come up with original thoughts and ideas.
So, dedicate some time to meditation every day, so your inner voice can come up with original ideas, solutions, and plans that can make a difference.
