Seven Ways to Be More Innovative in the Year Ahead
By Julie King | January 2, 2013
It's a new year. A time when change seems possible and people are energized to act.
One of the key challenges to being innovative in businesses lies not in coming up with ideas when we are inspired, but rather finding ways to overcome the barriers that arise when our inspiration wanes.
Here are seven great ways to stay motivated and refocus your commitment to innovation over the year to come, based on ideas from a Twitter #innochat* (an online discussion) where creative thinkers from around the world came together to tackle four questions about staying inspired.
Move. When our body is in motion, we release chemicals that help with brain growth. Dancing, exercising and other forms of movement are great ways to not only stay healthy, but also to stay inspired. Exercise, solitary activities and expressive movement like dance were some of the more popular activities used to tap into inspirational and innovative thinking.
Movement fuels the brain, the brain turns movement into beauty, discovery, euphoria - @jfk00ca
Being in body instead of mind def works. Ever notice a hot bath or shower gets the neuorons flowing? - @jennyneill
Agile body, agile mind (MT)- @tgclewis
Listen. For many, music is a powerful motivator that we literally feel resonating in the cells of our body and makes us want to move. If you need a pick-up in energy, immerse yourself in your favourite music.
I get a lot of inspiration from everyday things - people watching mostly...that and very loud music - @SwiftKickComm
Rock out in the car. Scream along w/Robert Plant on Communication Breakdown. Seriously, this works. - @KevinCzura
Play. What do you love to do most in the world? As "grown-ups", many of us don't take the time to do our favourite things, to play. Even if we mean to, we often either can't or don't find the time. We only have to look at children to see that play is the natural way humans discover and understand new information. If you want to be inspired, know what you love and make the time for "play".
Do something tactile - woodworking is my drug of choice - @ScottPropp
Go for a drive and really *try* to get lost. Makes you think differently, see other paths. - @mattbrat1
I like to observe water in the tank, in the sea, in the river - @Jabaldaia
Connect. Technology and isolation can disconnect us from the world around us. One way to get inspired is to connect with others. Take the time to put our own troubles aside and look into the world of others. Young children can be a great inspiration. They often think differently and see the ordinary as extraordinary.
Hang out with 14 month old twin granddaughters. Changes your perspective. Everything is innovation to them! - @skap5
Sometimes I go talk with the kids at my son's elementary school. They think differently. - @SJAbbott
Checking out what students in local art / design schools are working on can really be inspiring... - @wbendle
Explore. Curiosity is a wonderful thing. A curious mindset allows us to discover and absorb new information and tools and there are many ways we can be curious. We can explore new technologies, changing business models or even get more granular and ask questions about simple things, like whether our clients have the mindset we expect, or if an important shift is taking place. Be an adventurer and look at the change that is taking place as an opportunity to discover new and exciting ideas and opportunities.
When all the ideas start to have a similar pattern, then it time to break it up. - @SJAbbott
Do something different. Break out of the mold. Go to an unknown place. Meet new & different people. - @ElinSilveous
As dot connectors we always need to discover new dots. Explore. - @mattbrat1
Breathe. When is the last time you had a deep, belly laugh or took time to take deep, calm breaths? Breathing and meditation can help create emotional "white space" that restores energy and leaves you ready to open your thoughts to new ideas. Equally important is taking the time to rest.
Tools like meditation, breath work or just a hobby that calms you down a bit allows creativity to emerge. - @judymartin8
Stress is an inspiration killer. I block 'space' time on my calendar for each meeting that's added. 30:60 min ratio - @jmass
Be. Research into the success of high performance athletes has uncovered a critical element of success: intrinsic motivation. We each have unique things that inspire and motivate us. Yet in everyday life it is easy to let things that matter to other people dominate our attention.
To get inspired, or re-inspired, allow yourself to "be". Who you are. In the moment. Real. Authentic. You. So stop worrying about what others think and how you are perceived. Get zen, and just "be".
Overanalyzing why you're creatively dry further dries out your creativity. - @LoisMarketing
Sometimes it's as simple as sniffing strong-smelling spices, foods or plants; deep breath coffee beans or curry, to kickstart! - @jgombita
I also accept I have no inspiration & trust it will come back if I leave it & do something different - I think it's a process - @SwiftKickComm
A Twitter chat is an online discussion that takes place on Twitter in real time using a designated #hashtag. The #innochat group connect on most Thursdays at 12 pm EST and discusess a particular topic related to innovation. Each week brings different questions an ideas - all you have to do to participate is login to Twitter and follow the search term "innochat" at the designated time. Then if you want to add a comment to the discussion, simply add #innochat to your tweet so that others can see it.