When we make mistakes, new ideas emerge. We need to learn from our mistakes. There are always good and bad ideas. The ideas that really lead us to innovation have yet to appear. We need to work on that. When it comes (the best ideas that lead to innovation) we hardly remember the dead ones. This is life.
The example of the Wright brothers
As an example, we have taken the case of the Wright brothers who invented the airplane in 1903. The brothers harnessed the power of collaboration. It is indicated that the brothers constantly exchanged new ideas, discussed and thought together. They even played together when they were kids.
We must understand here that everything they did was the result of conversations and discussions between them. Through this collaboration, they made various alterations and modifications to their invention and eventually everything was rebuilt in 1903.
They did not experience a single moment of understanding. Rather, it was the culmination of many successive ideas over many months and years that resulted in his invention. One spark led to another and so on.
There are many such examples. We need to understand and listen to the moments of interaction we have with ourselves, our environment and the world. The secret lies in unraveling those moments.
The 5 essential characteristics
We have highlighted 5 essential elements that any person or group must follow in order to unravel the best ideas from worldly interactions and from our own past mistakes.
- Innovation arises over time – Great innovation happens over time. We need to give it enough time for it to develop. Small incremental ideas will eventually lead to bigger ideas.
- Practice observing and listening to the ideas of others. – We need to be patient and listen to the ideas of others and at the same time propose our own ideas.
- Allow your ideas to be reinterpreted and reapplied – When you allow your ideas to be reinterpreted and reapplied, that is when the ideas take on all the importance. They become important only after they have been assumed.
- Recognize that everyone has a role to play. – Apply the bottom-up approach. Giving equal importance to everyone on the team serves the purpose. When an innovation occurs, it is always surprising that no one would have thought of it.
- He improvises, he makes a lot of hits and misses. When we improvise there are always many successes and mistakes. The successes are staggering and amazing. The hits (the best ideas) would never have been noticed before.
When we collaborate and share, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Creative groups spontaneously form and we begin to look at the old problem in a new framework. Sparks fly.
