(Innovation as a Core Competency cont. 4)

Some important aspects of being innovative, ie being

- customer-centric, ie being close to your customer and understanding their unique needs; becoming an extension of your client's business

- a bit of naivety helps, ie if you fully understood how hard it's going to be, maybe you would not have started!!!!

- flexible and responsive, eg agile

- willing to think and do things differently, ie 'thinking outside the box'; being creative

- be part of the ecosystem, eg mindsets and culture that can help to capitalise on innovation, eg social media platforms

- having the right skill profile, ie constantly upgrading skill levels of both hard skills (data analytics, programming, etc) and soft skills (innovation, creativity, emotional intelligence, etc)

"...When an innovative organisation has the magic mix, it can rapidly transform dreams into reality..."
Victor Dominello, 2021

- commercialisation, ie converting the innovation into a 'money-making' enterprise; many innovators are not good business people and/or implementers

- using technology, like robotics, automation, artificial intelligence or machine learning, big data, Internet of Things, quantum mechanics, etc as enablers of innovative thinking.
"...there is no technology that can replace the magic of human connection......The role that technology can play automating those parts of our interaction that distract from the relationship and rapport..."
Luke Kenny, 2021

Research has found

"....If people are put in a role that challenges them, 67% will demonstrate above average creativity and innovation in their performance in the workplace. In contrast, only 33% of people in 'easy' jobs show above-average innovativeness..."
Silvia da Costa as quoted by Amantha Imber, 2021

Importance of cross pollination of both people and ideas, irrespective of their job title.

Innovation requires a concept of
"...'mind-wide open' - it's like a dog running around along the beach off its lead, sniffing out endless possibilities..."
John Banfield, 2021

(source: http://www.figynberg-german-shepherds.co.uk/males/)