Innovation laws

This article has been written by Steven Lyall, pursuing a Diploma in Content Marketing and Strategy from Skill Arbitrage.

This article has been edited and published by Shashwat Kaushik.

The decline of the diploma

Suited and Unrecruited

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Is that you? Qualified, but on the sidelines? More and more, it seems, the credentials we worked so long and hard to achieve and paid so dearly to collect are rapidly weakening in value by the year. Sadly, this scenario is becoming more and more common, and all the while, HR teams complain that it’s getting tougher to recruit any suitable talent.

And yet this predicament is not the case for everyone, is it? We all have that fortunate friend who blossoms from job to job while we are still interview hopping with waning success and withering hope. It’s as if one piece of the puzzle always eludes us, no matter how hard we try. How can it be so difficult to land a position that you are perfectly suited for?

Welcome home to the bane of the suited and unrecruited.

The most important skill in the world

Marketplace evolution is rapidly accelerating. Every year our devices get smarter and our internet more available. The resulting opportunities for business make for a “smaller world”—a world with greater access to marketplaces but also greater competition—resulting in an unparalleled demand for innovation.

This demand for businesses to keep innovating translates into a demand for employees to be innovative. And, as it turns out, many candidates fail to demonstrate the ability to innovate. Recruiters say that creative problem solving is one of the skills that are hardest to find.

But what’s the link between creativity and innovation? After all, the positions that you are applying for may not require any artistic talent at all. And we can’t all be creative, right? Can’t we leave that fluffy stuff to the artists and the dreamers—the people who want to make the world a better place?

Innovation and creativity can seem similar to some people and very different to others. Let’s break it down.

Innovation is the stuff of practical solutions that alter the landscape of marketplaces. Innovation is why we book cabs on an app instead of hailing a taxi at the curb. Innovation strategies are what businesses desperately need. And innovation is what recruiters fervently seek.

But instead, they look for creativity.

Why is that?

Creativity is, in fact, a way of thinking that assists with problem-solving. And problem solving is the name of the game. All the amazing innovations that keep rocking the market are all incredible solutions to problems.

It helps to think of creativity as the spark that fuels the engine. It’s the engine employers want, but they’re looking for the spark. And rightfully so. Creativity makes a person more responsive to the ever-changing environment by enabling them to solve problems better, faster and more uniquely.

To put it differently, there is no innovation without creativity. That’s the importance of creativity.

Psychology Today states that 94% of hiring managers say it is important to consider creativity when hiring a job candidate. Creativity has become the most important skill in the world.

Just not creative enough

Numerous research reports have shown that creativity among college students in India is at a lower level on average compared to their counterparts in countries like the United States, Finland, and Canada. This is because creativity is not typically something that is developed much in our school system.

So where does that leave us?

Well, there’s actually some really great news in what you just read. Creativity is developed.

Creativity is not something you’re either born with or without. It can be developed. It’s never too late to start. And it’s fun and easy to do.

From now on, you’ll never miss out on an opportunity because you’re not creative enough.

You actually have it

So our environment and the way we go about engaging with it play a determining role in the development of creativity. And this plays out in the classroom as well as in life—including our adult lives.

Try incorporating at least some of these activities into your daily routine. If you do, you’ll be well on your way to developing more of that creative spark. 

And we all know you actually have it.

Start moving

A little movement helps get the blood moving faster and can stimulate the brain. If you have a project coming up or an activity that requires some creative problem-solving, try doing a little exercise first. And don’t worry if you’re not the most ardent gym rat or marathon champ. You’ll be pleased to know that according to The Stanford Walking Study, simple walking is actually an incredible catalyst for creativity and might just be all you need. Walking provides a changing environment that can help to clear your mind, and once you get started with this habit, you will find that simply thinking or discussing the problem at hand while on a walk is an incredible tool for problem solving.

Take a big dump

Okay, not literally. Unless you need to. This dump is actually a little different.

Write out all of your thoughts and ideas on the topic and any related topics that occur to you. The idea is not to get everything to make sense right away, but rather to clear your mind of what is being processed by dumping everything out so you can generate new ideas and find new connections. They don’t need to be in any particular order. They don’t even need to make sense. And try not to judge yourself or assign any value to what you are writing as you are doing it.

Try to continue writing a bit after your thoughts on the topic have exhausted. You might find that the most interesting discoveries, ideas, and connections happen then.

Pro Tip: Set aside the gadgets and go old school with a nice pen and notebook for this one.

Pro Tip 2: Start a journal where you regularly write down your thoughts from that day or about any topic you feel like writing on at that moment. This activity would not need to be specific to a project, but will be just as beneficial all the same.

Indulge in the arts

Did you know that music and art help engage the imagination and develop problem-solving skills? No kidding. Art helps individuals engage in divergent thinking and consider multiple solutions rather than just settle for the most obvious solution. Music has been shown to significantly boost creativity and multidisciplinarity among students, particularly in computer science and software engineering courses. 

You could experiment with listening to music while engaging in a task. If you find yourself getting distracted, try switching to instrumental music.

Change your space

Changing your environment every now and then creates fresh stimuli and can result in enhanced creative thinking. This could be as simple as rearranging your desk, a hobby area, or any portion of your home. You could find new environments to do certain activities in or vary the lighting or decor in certain spaces. Try to feel good in the space you’re creating. You want to be excited to be there. And don’t feel underwhelmed by the seeming simplicity of modifying your spaces—it is in reality extremely effective at boosting your creativity.

What is a space you can change this week?

Shutdown

Our phones have become like second brains for us, haven’t they? And while we boast of a massive advantage over previous generations (with all the information and entertainment that is readily available at our fingertips), our devices can also end up distracting and demotivating us, reducing our thinking and problem solving abilities.

On the other hand, technology is incredible at helping us to collaborate and develop ideas; it just may not be the best for the problem solving portions of your day.

Pro Tip: Start to recognise the portions of your work or daily tasks at home that require creative problem solving, so you can shut down or separate yourself from your devices at those moments.

Pursue a hobby

At the risk of triggering the debate of whether or not watching Netflix is a bonafide hobby, for the purpose of developing creativity in innovation, try a hobby that you are truly passionate about and that presents the opportunity to engage in a bit of creative problem solving. Ask yourself if your hobby evokes these types of questions:

What would it be like to grow fruit trees in containers? What would improve the quality of the fruit?

How can I solve this 2000-piece puzzle faster? What would improve my time?

What would it take for me to beat Dave at table tennis? What would make my smash tougher to return?

And yes, sports make excellent hobbies.

If you aren’t sure which hobby you might be interested in, don’t despair. Try thinking back on what used to interest you as a child, try out some introductory classes online, or join a friend who is passionate about a hobby and see if any of those topics spark your curiosity and imagination.

Pro Tip: Approach selecting a hobby as a problem solving exercise. Write ideas that come to mind and why you may or may not enjoy engaging in those hobbies. Or go for a walk? You get the picture. Just remember to enjoy the process.

Collaborate

Working with others can develop our creative problem solving skills in ways we wouldn’t otherwise have access to. Collaboration provides numerous opportunities to look at things differently. You may become aware of problems to solve that you weren’t aware of previously. You may be exposed to new methods of operating or dealing with challenges or even new ways of approaching obstacles.

Collaboration can also be fun and is a great career skill to continue developing at every stage. That’s a triple win.

Keep solving problems

It helps to start getting used to the idea that life is full of wonderful problems that need to be solved—that can be solved by you and that will be rewarding to solve.

Problem solving is a key to a successful career. More than a certified graduate, an employee who can solve a variety of problems without panicking is a valuable company asset, but it sure is nice to have a practice environment where the stakes aren’t quite so high, isn’t it? That’s where the daily exercises come in.

Practice talking with family and friends about problems you solved. Share what you dealt with, the solution you developed and what your thought process was. Write your favourites down to recall later when you’re preparing for an interview.

And remember, the competence developed through creative problem solving is not only going to benefit your career but every aspect of your life.

A life that will only become richer and more rewarding as you keep solving problems.

References

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