Innovators Aren’t Cynics | Jeffrey Phillips, Innovation Excellence

Phillips writes:

People are cynical about innovation because innovation often hasn’t delivered what has been promised. But looking more closely at the reasons why uncovers some basic truths.

Those truths include:

One, many promises have been overstated, by people with a vested interest in promoting innovation. ...

Two, people are often cynical about innovation because they realize it is occasionally used as a scapegoat or “flavor of the month”. ...

After further discussion, Phillips concludes:

Until you recognize that you haven’t seen it all, that you can’t even imagine all the opportunities, that cynicism is a set of blinders meant to keep you in line, you are definitely correct: you can’t innovate. There is no more self-fulfilling prophecy than a cynic who boldly declares that he or she “can’t innovate”. They are exactly right, and self-reinforcing to boot. Get rid of your cynicism, approach innovation opportunities with a sense of wonder, enthusiasm, possibility. Yes, that means shedding your green eyeshades and corporate cynicism. ...

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This article is featured in Garbl's Creativity Connections for June 17, 2012. My daily paper is available at the Creativity link above -- and by free online subscription.