Here's how you can use your creativity and innovation skills to drive positive social change.

To drive real innovation, lead with genuine curiosity and start showing up and listening to others who are already working on an issue that you are passionate about. Rather than parachuting in to save the day, you'll build relationships, learn insights from those who have already committed to work on that problem, and you'll avoid creating resistance among those who have knowledge, relationships and insights to support innovation. Humility and curiosity are essential to the initial problem identification. Many founders are hunting for a problem to build a business solving and skip this step, limiting the advocates you'll some day need in your corner.

A criatividade é uma das competências que ajuda bastante no dia a dia de trabalho, com diferentes formas de se realizar e construir novos objetivos, metas e desenvolvimento.

Ask yourself what are you passionate about and can this passion help those in need. After spending 20+ years in corporate finance I had an opportunity to pivot into the nonprofit sector, where my focus is financial equity. In this space I work with novel and innovative technologies with the sole purpose of providing services to the unbanked and underbaked.

To really make a difference, start by figuring out what social issues matter most to you. Your genuine interest will help you think creatively and tackle problems in new ways. Whether you're drawn to environmental issues, social justice, or healthcare, it's important to understand the details of these challenges first. Once you know what you're passionate about, dive into learning all you can from different angles to get a well-rounded understanding. This solid knowledge will be the base for any new ideas you come up with.

To engage others in creativity and innovation for positive social change and foster an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued and encouraged. Utilize collaborative techniques like brainstorming and design thinking workshops to generate and refine ideas collectively. Provide resources and training to develop creative problem-solving skills within the community. Create open dialogue and continuous feedback platforms to ensure active participation and iterative improvement. Celebrate successes and recognize contributions to maintain motivation and build a shared purpose.

Collaboration amplifies creativity and innovation. I remember organizing a community meeting to discuss local environmental concerns. Engaging others not only brought diverse perspectives but also built a stronger support network. By involving people who are passionate about the same cause, you can pool resources, ideas, and energy to create a more significant impact.

To effectively engage everyone in sustainability, it is essential that the purpose and benefits are communicated with absolute clarity. A long-term perspective is crucial for achieving meaningful results. Therefore, engagement in sustainability should be sustained over time, emphasizing its enduring importance.

Social change is a team sport. Collaborate with communities, listen to their stories, and co-create solutions that truly address their needs. Embrace diverse perspectives and build a movement that's greater than the sum of its parts.

We were told competition fostered success but collaboration has since overthrown competition. Knowing that your finished product is someone else's raw material establishes the need to actively seek out collaboration. It has the ability to expand your capabilities, elevate your business and increase your profits

This article hits the nail on the head! Brainstorming sessions are my jam – it's where magic happens. The key is wild ideas – the crazier, the better. You never know what gem you might unearth. It's like mixing paints – unexpected colors can create a masterpiece.

Brainstorming is a creative technique used to generate a large number of ideas in a group setting to address a specific problem. It involves gathering a diverse group of participants to ensure a wide range of perspectives and ideas. During the session, all ideas are welcomed without criticism, encouraging open-mindedness and free thinking. A facilitator guides the session to keep it on track and ensure everyone has a chance to contribute. Ideas are recorded visibly for the group, often using whiteboards or sticky notes, and participants are encouraged to build on each other’s suggestions. After the session, the ideas are evaluated and prioritized based on feasibility and potential impact.

When coming up with ideas as a group it's important to make sure that the process is as inclusive as possible - when encouraging divergent thinking you need to be inclusive of divergent minds. Make sure that there are options when 'brainstorming' ideas where everyone can shine at their best and all voices are included - as diversity is the key to innovation. One way to do this is to give your community members time to prepare for the session so those who need the time to process their thoughts can do so before the meeting - arriving to the session with prepared ideas that they are confident in, but may not feel confident in sharing or be able to process otherwise.

I'm a firm believer in idea-generating sessions where the wilder, the better. Encourage everyone to think outside the box, challenge assumptions, and even risk sounding a bit crazy. The goal is to spark a chain reaction of creativity, where one outlandish idea sparks another, ultimately leading us to solutions we'd never have considered otherwise. Remember, innovation rarely springs fully formed. It's a process of synthesizing information, blending different perspectives, and refining initial concepts until they become truly impactful. Stay flexible, be willing to pivot, and don't be afraid to experiment. This is where your knowledge and network really pay off, as you can bounce ideas off trusted allies and course-correct as needed.

Testing viability is so important. I have seen many entrepreneurs fail to keep their idea alive just for not making prototypes to test. They straight jump with the product or service to solve the problem.

Prototyping allows you to test your ideas on a small scale before full implementation. In a community garden project, we first created a small prototype garden to test different planting methods and community involvement strategies. This trial and error approach helped us refine our methods and ensured the larger project’s success. Prototyping is an essential step to minimize risks and improve your solutions based on real feedback.

Me resulta increíble pensar que la creatividad se alimenta de la propia creatividad. Para crear un prototipo se necesitan ideas novedosas, pero si el prototipo necesita cambios, necesitará nuevas ideas. Es fascinante cómo unas ideas puedes llevar a otras, reafirmarlas e incluso mejorarlas. La fase de prototipado es clave ya que confirma la validez de la idea y si será necesario aplicar nuevas ideas o creatividad.

Practicar la gratitud diaria: Llevar un diario de gratitud donde se anoten las pequeñas cosas que se aprecian cada día. Tiempo para pasatiempos creativos: Dedicar tiempo regularmente a actividades creativas que traigan alegría y satisfacción personal. Desconexión digital: Establecer períodos regulares de desconexión de las redes sociales para centrarse en el momento presente y en las interacciones cara a cara. Exploración personal: Animarse a probar nuevas actividades y experiencias, saliendo de la zona de confort y descubriendo nuevas pasiones y talentos.

I fully agree and always recommend prototyping for projects like these since it is a great way to go about just about anything that you would like to scale but are unsure how to accomplish. Working with iterations and starting small allows you to be cost efficient and gradually increase scope as you turn unkown variables into known facts

Moving from prototype to implementation requires courage and resilience. Be prepared to handle logistical challenges and resistance with a solid, adaptable plan. Starting small will help manage growth and build gradual acceptance. It's important to be flexible and open to iteration based on feedback to ensure viability. Your creativity and commitment will drive meaningful, lasting societal change.

The fastest way to implement change is to be in the middle of a crisis, as the urgency of the crisis creates the motivation to make changes that would not otherwise be considered. Luckily in most organizations we do not have too many crises. However, as a leader, you can frame the team's thinking and ask them to consider alternative scenarios. Utilizing 'extreme scenario planning', the team can get 'out of the box' in their thinking and substantially enhance their ability to come up with unique solutions. I have done this, and then we have chosen which scenario we think is most likely to occur. Now the team owns it, and they are more bought into the changes which must occur. An easy extreme scenario is 'we lose all sales to competitor X'.

With a refined prototype, it’s time to implement your solution on a larger scale. I recall the excitement of launching a recycling program in our neighborhood after months of planning and prototyping. Implementation requires coordination, persistence, and sometimes navigating unexpected challenges, but seeing your ideas come to life is incredibly rewarding. Effective implementation turns innovative ideas into tangible change.

Okay, buckle up! This part requires guts. You’ll encounter logistical hurdles and maybe a dash of resistance. But guess what? With adaptability and a sturdy game plan, you can breathe life into those innovative ideas. Start small if that’s your jam—persistence is your secret sauce. And hey, your creativity? It’s the engine behind this transformational journey.

Jack Welch, ex-CEO da General Electric, acreditava que a implementação de mudanças deve ser conduzida com clareza, urgência e liderança forte. Ele defendia a comunicação aberta e honesta, assegurando que todos os colaboradores entendessem a visão e a necessidade da mudança. Welch enfatizava a importância de criar um senso de urgência, motivando a equipe a agir rapidamente e com determinação. Para garantir a eficácia da mudança, Welch recomendava o envolvimento e o empoderamento dos líderes, capacitando-os para guiar suas equipes através do processo. Ele também valorizava o reconhecimento e a recompensa do desempenho, incentivando a meritocracia e o destaque daqueles que abraçavam e impulsionavam a mudança.

Sustaining impact is often the most challenging part. In my experience with a literacy program, maintaining momentum involved continuous community engagement, regular evaluation, and adapting to new needs. We set up periodic reviews and adjusted our strategies based on feedback. Ensuring your efforts have a lasting effect requires ongoing dedication and flexibility.

Para que a mudança social positiva seja duradoura, ela deve ser sustentável, exigindo avaliação contínua do impacto das inovações e disposição para ajustes. É crucial construir sistemas que garantam a longevidade das mudanças e envolver stakeholders para criar um ambiente de apoio, estimulando a inovação e a criatividade contínuas, assegurando que as mudanças positivas perdurem para as futuras gerações.

Alguno de los errores mas comunes en la implementación de exitosos modelos de inclusión, es la falta de seguimiento a los mismos y de la evalación de las oportunidades de mejora en ellos. Esto debe ser un proceso evolutivo en constante supervisión con el fin de cumplir con los objetivos inicialmente trazados. La innovacion requiere de constantes cambios, debe adaptarse a los movimientos y avances tecnológicos. Debe crecer de la mano de la expansión del modelo que hemos creado.

Para garantizar el cambio social y que éste sea sostenido, el equilibrio entre el crecimiento económico, el cuidado del medio ambiente y el bienestar social, necesita evaluación continua, compromiso, creatividad e innovación continua

Le fameux prisme de la RSE peut permettre de mettre un environnement favorable à chaque action. Bien entendu, faire attention à ce qu'il y a autour de soi n'est pas une option. La créativité doit s'appuyer sur l'existant. Prendre en compte des ressources humaines et naturelles, prendre le temps et surtout oser.

Use your skills and influence to support a culture of empathy generation and learning in your organization. Before identifying problem, or prototyping, ideating or brainstorming- you need to ensure you invest in listening and generating empathy insights from key constituents. Don't assume that you get to pick the problem worth solving, instead focus on ensuring you and others are listening to the needs of various groups to surface the problems in need of solutions. Too many organizations are focused on being innovative and miss the lesson that building a culture of learning leads to smart and continuous learning & innovation.

Leveraging media and social platforms can amplify your message and reach a broader audience. Also, don’t underestimate the power of partnerships; collaborating with organizations that share your mission can enhance your impact. Finally, always be open to learning and evolving. Social change is a dynamic process, and staying adaptable will help you navigate its challenges more effectively.

One of the most important aspects and normally is not considered is how to measure the impact in innovative ways in order to guarantee investments and compromise from stakeholders

Understand the social needs and use creative problem-solving to design solutions that really help people. Work with different groups to pool resources and ideas, ensuring the community is involved in creating these solutions. Raise awareness, empower people and use technology to expand the access.

In my experience, creativity has been the way to solve the multiple problems of my economic and social environment. Needs and shortcomings, together with a non-conformist attitude, are a strong motivation to find and develop creative and innovative solutions. To give context to this idea, I must say that I have lived most of my life in Cuba.