Change is an inherent quality of innovation, but is also about appreciating the complexity of what is without the incessant need to change it. IDEO, a global innovation firm, applies a technique called design thinking which begins any innovation effort by empathizing with people and asking them questions. Designers do not jump the gun on gathering ideas too soon, but rather they explore the reality of what people are seeing and how they are feeling, and then defining the scope of the problem that they want to tackle. Paul Polak, inventor and author of End of Poverty, suggests that in order to alleviate poverty we must go to where the action is, talk to the people who are affected, and really understand the root cause of the situation. Otherwise wanting to resolve poverty is just an abstract thought without a connection to reality.
This is a major revelation for those thinking that innovation is just about having great ideas. The ability to get in the trenches to observe and ask questions is a major source of insight. It takes courage and mindfulness to pursue what is and allow patterns to emerge. Changing gears to explore what-if’s will naturally come into play as you begin to connect the dots and see visions of a better world. In other words, there is no need to rush innovation. Instead work on building relationships with people and then begin experimenting with various ways that could help create a desirable impact.
Here are some tips for strengthening your observation and questioning skills. These are basic ideas, and like most things in life the most simplest of thoughts are sometimes the most difficult to implement.
• Observe your breath – breathing is an essential activity of life which often goes unnoticed. There are numerous studies that show how mindful breathing can clear the mental chatter and restore health of the nervous system. Clear observation is very difficult without a clear mind.
• Create a master list of questions – questions are the key to opening new doors of perception. If you can ask good questions, you will get good answers, at least eventually. Experiment with your questions and allow them to evolve to better ones.
• Identify key people to help you – As we meet with people, we find that everyone has a different point of view which is the beauty of gathering knowledge. People’s diverse personalities and lifestyles make for a rich arena for driving innovation. The point is to look for patterns and see which responses stand out.