Written by: Hedi Schaefer, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
In a world where the innovation industry is growing at an unprecedented pace, the demand for competence has never been more crucial. Yet, amidst the buzz of external strategies and processes, the often-overlooked foundation of true innovation lies within a realm of thoughts, emotions, and states of those who innovate, that shape the innovator's journey.
“Meaningful innovation is needed for businesses to survive and our world to thrive.” – Hedi Schaefer
The power of innovation
Innovation means creating something new and making positive changes for a better, or at least evolved, world. Innovations are ideas that lead to tangible products, like the Rubik's Cube, a service like Airbnb hosting, a process like the way we work together as a team, or a way of life, like putting family first.
Innovation has impact and meaning and answers human needs, so people opt in. Innovation touches every aspect of human existence.
The innovation industry
The innovation industry itself is evolving, with trends like Digital Transformation some years ago and now AI taking center stage. Training programs and supportive environments, both offline and online, aim to nurture creativity. Frameworks such as Design Thinking, Lean Start Up, and agile methodologies provide structure. These external factors undoubtedly play a big role for the innovators’ empowerment.
But do they truly guarantee the success of innovation?
As an innovation consultant with over 14 years of experience, I've witnessed a phenomenon that challenges the conventional mindset. I've encountered individuals who, without the bells and whistles of a perfect process or environment, have driven innovation through sheer determination. They faced challenges head-on, found creative workarounds, and invested their energy when the going got tough. On the flip side, the same task could fail under different leadership within the same organization.
It showed me time and time again: Innovation, the process of creating positive and purposeful outcomes, is all about the people who drive the innovation forward. But little did I know about the state of mind those successful innovators were in and where innovation truly starts: Within.
Becoming an innovator first: The true success factor of innovation (nobody talks about)
BE-coming an innovator first is the true success factor of innovation! By removing the blocks from your subconscious mind so you can thrive. Focus on the following three aspects and you’ll have the competitive advantage of an innovation leader, making it happen.
1. Thoughts
“Thoughts become things.”
It's the very thought, that leads to an emotion, an action and therefore result. And it shows: all creation starts within.
When the innovator thinks, "I can do this," he/she becomes persistent, moves into the unknown, and becomes unstoppable.
When the innovator thinks, “I can't" or “we’ve done this before, and it didn’t work," he/she gives the innovation power away, goes back into the comfort zone, and fails with the result.
95% of our beliefs are hidden in the subconscious mind and in our belief system.
How to switch into thriving mode?
Become aware of what beliefs are dysfunctional for moving forward and succeeding, and consciously create and train functional beliefs, i.e.,
“Everything is possible!”
“I am enough!” or
“I can do it!”
2. Fears
Innovation means you are stepping into an unknown territory. A place our human brain dislikes, because here it cannot keep us safe.
(see “Why You Hate Uncertainty, and How to Cope”, Psychology Today LINK)
The result is fear. Fear about the change, the unknown or the "what ifs". It paints a future, based on past experiences, not on reality or potential. If we know that this is a normal human reaction, we can start to manage our fears while innovating.
How to switch into thriving mode?
Speak about your fears with fellow teammates, write about it in your journal, or get counselling.
The trick is to externalize the fear and not push it down. Pushing down leads to locking in the fear and letting it lead you.
3. State
Humans are state dependent beings. (see Bruce D. Perry, M.D.: What happened to you? Flatiron Book, 2021, p.90, Link)
When we’re in a state of calm, we can generate solutions, step into creativity, flow and a heightened IQ. When we’re in a state of alarm we step into compliance, need outside leadership and our creative ability shrinks.
A calm state needs a safe space for innovation.
Have you ever gotten your top idea while on a walk or while taking a shower? That’s what I mean! Innovation needs far more then the time and space (life or remote). It needs the mental space!
How to switch into thriving mode?
Make sure you give yourself this mental space and security needed.
Calm your nervous system with exercises like the butterfly hug (watch video tutorial here) or regular meditations (enjoy the Cognitive Billionaire – Meditation Podcasts Link)
Surround yourself with encouraging people and or consider counselling for resilience and healing.
Conclusion: Unlocking human potential for innovation
The full human potential is truly needed to succeed. The ability to innovate starts from the subconscious: the beliefs, emotions and the state that either block or enable the journey into the unknown. Tools like Design Thinking and agile methodologies are valuable. But for success, they need a fertile ground – the fertile ground within ourselves.
In essence, becoming an innovator first, unlocking the subconscious mind, and embracing the inside-out principle are the keys to innovation success. It's time for the industry to recognize and prioritize this blind spot, as it holds the power to make or break future innovations.
After all, true innovation begins with every one of us.
True innovation starts with you.
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Hedi Schaefer, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Hedi Schaefer is a leader in work-life innovation through identity work, and future skills. An identity crisis and depression made her question herself and work-lifestyle as a jet-setting innovation consultant. She understood that to create a business and life based on true passion, purpose, ease, and flow, the key is inner work. Hedi created strategies to shift dramatically and turn everything around. She has since dedicated her life to helping others do the same and become the authentic changemaker and creative leader they wish to be. She is CEO of the Hedi Schaefer Academy, the online hub for Work-Life Innovation, an author, and a speaker. Her mission: Light up and lead! inspires people across the globe.
