Developing and practicing habits that favor the creative engine is fundamental for innovative people.Do you know that person who always comes up with original ideas to solve a problem? Or those times when we see something new and think “why didn’t I think of it before?” Yes, these ideas usually come from innovative people or a whole team of them!
Anyone can become more innovative, just develop and practice habits that favor this creative engine . And there are at least 5 of them that all innovative people have and practice constantly – consciously or unconsciously. See what they are!
Curiosity and desire to explore
Innovative people are naturally curious. They have a habit of reading constantly (books, blogs, news sites, etc.), watching videos, lectures and classes, visiting museums and exhibitions, listening to podcasts and radio programs, in addition to the constant need to learn new things, do experiments, visit new places, observe the world around you and study subjects related to what you are creating.
They are people who want to know how things work , ask questions (many questions) and are true explorers of everything that can get their attention.
2. Preview
Michael Jordan visualized the ball’s trajectory before making a free throw. Boxing legend Muhammad Ali visualized his fights before entering the ring. Several soccer players reported that they envision what would be the perfect kick before their free kicks or penalty kick.
The power of visualization is one of the most common habits among the best athletes in the world , but it is also widely used by several other professionals, such as engineers, presidents of large companies, marketers, salespeople, entrepreneurs and many others.
Visualization and imagination make a person more creative. Imagining and seeing in your mind how things should work, having a global view of the situation, understanding how the parties should interact with each other, are habits of the most powerful innovative people. In addition to helping to identify problems and failures even before they happen , it also helps you find solutions that no one else has thought of.
3. Focus on fundamental principles
There is a term in English called “first principles”, which became popular when Elon Musk (the entrepreneur and founder of Tesla Motors and SpaceX) said in an interview that it is important to think about the fundamental principles when we want to solve any problem , instead of doing the things simply because it’s how they were done on other occasions or by other people.
Things can always be approached differently, and innovative people know that dogmas, customs and traditions, however well-intentioned they may be, can sometimes hamper the innovation process.
4. Connections and network
Innovative people have an innate need to hear what others around them have to say. And it is not for nothing that they also tend to have a rich network of contacts. Those who have the ability to innovate running through their veins always see an opportunity to apprehend something new through their relationships.
They know that it is impossible to dominate all the existing issues in the world, so, for this, they seek to connect with the most diverse specialists, so that they aggregate them with their knowledge.
Talking to a variety of professionals is not only important for improving your intellect, but also for evaluating possible ways out of a problem. Through well-made connections, little by little, innovative solutions are taking shape, and even an idea that had started out very bad and fragile, can become something tangible and revolutionary.
5. Persistence, discipline and determination
Mistakes happen, and not always the solution found will have the best results right away.
When that happens, persistence, discipline and determination will keep innovative people from giving up on trying, being curious, looking for alternatives and creating the next innovation.
It is innovative habits that create innovative people
People are not born innovative, they become innovative . And what makes them become disruptive individuals – who can see a possibility never before seen for a problem – is not a specific action, but a set of daily behaviors.
Adopting habits that allow you to expand your level of experience and your perspectives in relation to the world is what will make you able to find innovative solutions, whether for simple needs – everyday – or even for more complex issues in relation to your community, work or world.
