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Innovation doesn't just happen...
It takes time, work, cooperation

Forget the idea of the lone inventor. Innovation and advancement just don't happen that way. Today, it takes time, effort, and hard work.

From the first idea to the technical advance, every step holds the opportunity to ignore or dilute its inspiration. If you look at companies we admire, we find a dedication to coming up with new ideas and turning them into products or processes.

In his book The Art of Innovation (Currency), Tom Kelley says good companies excel at identifying and fostering ideas every minute of the day. 

An idea is just a connection between things in one's mind, according to consultant Winston Brill. The more you think about it, the greater is the chance of making an important connection. 

It comes down to establishing what Brill calls an "innovative attitude" at work. The idea that fresh thinking and ideas are crucial should exist in all that an organization does. If the work environment encourages enthusiasm for new projects, people will always be on the lookout for good ideas. 

One person can't turn an idea into an innovation, but brainstorming can bring out the best in ideas and people. The group really does become more than the sum of its parts because participants think and share ideas freely. They make new connections no matter how ridiculous they might seem.

The greatest enemy of innovation is fear. There should be no fear to try things out. Imperfect ideas fuel the innovation engine. 

So what is that germ of an idea in the back of your mind? Let's talk about it, because it could be important.

>> More articles available in "Business Basics"