Reflections on "Innovation"

Originally published October 28, 2022

Before I share a few of my recent thoughts about elements we need for innovation to happen, I'd like you to write down a list of words that describe you. Intellectual? Fun? Kind? Quiet? Imperfect? You get the idea...

Got your word list? Ok, good. On to the topic on my mind...

I've been thinking a lot recently about the concept of innovation and what it takes to be innovative. 

And as I've pondered this topic, I realized that I feel like there's a lot of power, force, heaviness that I associate with the word "innovative". Like a "try, try, try again, try harder" kind of energy that I tend to associate with figuring something out and finding innovative solutions. (At least, this is the association in my mind, conditioned by a lifetime of trying as hard and I can to solve problems and to get everything "right"...)

But what if we don't have to try that hard to find innovation? What if it's something that might come naturally, just flow out of us, if we allow things to be easy and allow our mind to go and pursue what it wants, what it's most interested in? 

Based on my own experience, I wonder if this may be particularly challenging for women, as our minds spend SOOO much time and mental capacity in efforts to fill ALL of our expected roles. Just like how we often don't allow ourselves to rest or do what's fun for us (and instead prioritizing the needs and comfort of those around us), we don't allow our minds to PLAY, particularly if it's not directly tied to a specific outcome. 

So, how do we become more innovative, develop innovations that might solve some of the world's problems, big or small?  

We learn to allow ourselves to play. To be more than what we produce or what we achieve. To recognize that we as individuals are ourselves innovative combinations of our unique experiences and perspectives and core elements of our personalities, our beings. If we want to share innovative, world-changing contributions, we MUST allow ourselves to stop trying so hard all of the time and learn to listen to the curiosities already inside of us. 

So, take a look at that list of your traits that you wrote at the beginning here. These are the traits of an innovative leader. Because it's you, and you are an innovation in progress. Let it be easy, and follow what makes you happy. What happens next will be new and unique, with ripple effects that can change the world.