Enhancing Personal Innovation

Can everyone Innovate?

In Part 1 of our 2 part series on The Psychology of Innovation, we delved into the Climate of Innovation and how a comprehensive approach, combining creativity, neuroscience, psychology, and psychological safety, is essential for cultivating a truly innovative culture.

Innovation is often proclaimed as the heart of progress, propelling societies, organisations, and individuals forward (Valtonen et al., 2023). At its core, innovation involves the introduction of novel ideas, products, processes, or services that significantly improve or transform existing problems (Bendak et al., 2020). It is the practical implementation of creativity, while creativity is about thinking up new things, innovation is about doing new things (Hughes et al., 2018).

Unfortunately, our innovative ideas more frequently suffer from a lack of momentum or inadequately considered execution. A McKinsey Global Innovation Survey highlighted that only 6% of executives are satisfied with their innovation performance (McKinsey).

This signals a clear need for a deeper understanding of the nuanced dynamics of creativity and innovation. In this article, we are taking an in-depth look at the conditions that nurture creative thinking on an individual level.

Innovation vs. Creativity

Creativity and innovation, while interconnected, are distinct concepts. Creativity is the seed of innovation, the mental process of generating original ideas (Gajdzik & Wolniak, 2022).

Innovation, on the other hand, is the real-world application of these ideas, the fruit from which the seed bloomed (Kahn, 2018). Creativity can exist without innovation, but innovation cannot happen without creativity (Gajdzik & Wolniak, 2022). For instance, Leonardo da Vinci's sketches of flying machines were creative, but it took the Wright brothers’ innovative spirit to convert those concepts into reality.

Similarly, Thomas Edison’s idea of electric light was creative, but it took his persistent experimentation and the development of a practical incandescent bulb to innovate and bring electric lighting to the world. These examples highlight how creativity sparks, like a flickering light bulb, the initial idea, but innovation drives its practical realisation to light.

The Neuroscience of Innovation

Looking at individuals like the Wright brothers and Thomas Edison, one may wonder if only these select few are capable of innovation. However, neuroscience suggests that everyone has the potential to be creative and innovate.

The prefrontal cortex, responsible for complex cognitive behaviour and decision-making, plays a crucial role in evaluating new ideas and making strategic decisions (Huang et al., 2021). The hippocampus, associated with memory, facilitates the combination of past knowledge and new information to generate innovative solutions (Ren et al., 2020).  

Additionally, the Default Mode Network (DMN) plays a fundamental role in the creative innovation process. The DMN is a network of interacting brain regions most active when the brain is at rest and not focused on the external environment. This allows for mind-wandering, daydreaming, and the spontaneous generation of novel ideas (Huo et al., 2020). Providing a mental space where creative thoughts can emerge and be explored helps give rise to those ‘AHA’ moments.

The Executive Mode Network (EMN), also known as the executive control network, is responsible for high-level cognitive functions, such as planning, decision-making, and regulating attention and behaviour (Weber et al., 2022). The EMN plays a critical role in bringing innovative ideas to life by focusing attention, evaluating options, and making strategic decisions (Kenett et al., 2018).

Dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and reward, also plays a significant role. When we produce a novel idea or solve a problem, dopamine is released, creating a sense of satisfaction, and motivating further creative thinking (Zabelina et al., 2016). This biochemical process reinforces our drive to innovate, providing the pleasure and reward that fuels persistent efforts (Zabelina et al., 2016).

The interplay between the DMN and EMN is essential for innovation. While the DMN generates spontaneous and creative ideas, the EMN evaluates these ideas, plans their implementation, and guides strategic decision-making. This balance between creative ideation and practical execution is essential for successful innovation.

In summary, with only 5% of new ideas successfully being implemented, how can we activate both the DMN and EMN to both create and innovate new ideas.

Harnessing Neuroscience to Enhance Innovation

To enhance innovation on a personal level, individuals can engage in activities that stimulate the brain's creative networks:

The Benefits of Practising Yoga Nidra

Yoga Nidra is an ancient Indian practice that creates deep relaxation while maintaining consciousness. During practice, the Wernicke’s area of the brain, which processes auditory and language cues, remains active, allowing us to stay responsive to instructions from a guide while fully relaxed.

Research has shown that Yoga Nidra increases brainwaves associated with the deepest levels of relaxation and restoration. Additionally, it boosts dopamine (the brain’s reward and motivation chemical) release by up to 65% due to decreased activity in the striatum (Fialoke, S., Tripathi, V., Thakral, S. et al.) – the area of the brain responsible for executive control and attention.

During practice, Yoga Nidra reduces Default Mode Network (DMN) activity, including creative mind-wandering and daydreaming, helping your brain to achieve deep relaxation.

While the DMN is associated with innovation, meaning that Yoga Nidra itself may not spark the next big idea, achieving a state of profound relaxation through this practice can bolster creativity, learning, and cognitive focus.

Interestingly, these neurological benefits become more pronounced with regular practice, suggesting that consistent engagement in Yoga Nidra can significantly enhance both mental and physical well-being.

Cultivate Curiosity

“It’s through curiosity and looking at opportunities in new ways that we’ve always mapped our path at Dell. There’s always an opportunity to make a difference.”

— Michael Dell

Ever solved a mystery and felt a rush of exquisite satisfaction? That’s your brain’s reward chemical, dopamine kicking into gear.

When you explore and satisfy your curiosity, your brain floods your body with dopamine, which makes you feel happier. This reward mechanism increases the likelihood that you’ll try and satisfy your curiosity again in the future. (Gruber M, Gelman B, Ranganath C.)

Curiosity plays an essential role in the process of innovation helping to ensure the success of any idea. From truly understanding the problem your idea will solve for different situations, to ensuring the best quality and design, the more questions you can answer the more likely it will be that your idea will grow the sturdy legs it needs to thrive.

Next time you have a great idea, try this:

In Dulcie Swanston’s It’s Not Bloody Rocket Science: The Journal, she recommends an exercise that might help boost your innovative thinking called Success Beyond My Wildest Dreams. This is a great exercise to help liberate your brain and kick out the biases that hold you back.

1.    Next time you have a new idea, take a moment to imagine it doing really well.

2.    Write down all the potential opportunities if this new idea didn’t just work but was amazing. Think about what would be the very best outcome if IT DID HAPPEN.

3.    Think what else could happen - let your brain go wild here – no limits. Even if the ideas seem entirely different from the initial idea, where else could this go? Keep asking What else?

4.    Reflect on what you have written and work out what might stop you and how you could reduce the risk of things getting in your way.

5.    What small step could you take today to make your idea a reality? Perhaps it’s not that wild after all.

Make sure to get yourself a copy of this amazing book as it is full of great personal coaching exercises to help you on your way.

Innovation isn’t just for a select few; everyone has the potential to innovate. While creativity generates ideas, innovation is about turning those ideas into reality.

In essence, innovation is about balancing creative thinking with practical implementation. By understanding and leveraging these mental processes, anyone can unlock their innovative potential and contribute to meaningful progress.

So let your brain do some wandering, get plenty of rest – including deep rest, stay curious, keep dreaming, and experiment with your ideas.

Would you like to learn more about the power of deep relaxation?

Tune into Ep.63 of the Chief Psychology Officer Podcast to learn about the Transformative Impact of Breathing Techniques.

Or reach out to Kristian Lees Bell on LinkedIn.