5-year olds are geniuses, because they embrace the "stupid idea." -
You can tell how innovative a company is by how they respond to "stupid ideas." Do people avoid them, dismiss them, or secretly note who suggested them? Sometimes, they're pleasantly accepted but quietly forgotten.
The Wrong Way to Handle Dumb Ideas
Eckert shares a story about one company that handled such ideas poorly. You can watch the whole episode on YouTube to learn what it takes to avoid this senario.
Often, first ideas in new directions might sound silly. Someone tries to connect thoughts and come up with something, but it doesn't always seem great at first. However, just because an idea seems dumb doesn't mean it isn't valuable. If we dig deeper and explore it, it could turn out to be very important.
For this to happen, silly ideas need to be more than just accepted—they should be welcomed and encouraged from everyone. Everyone should be curious about these ideas, even if they seem silly at first. It's amazing when people take a "stupid idea," see the value in it, and build on it. That's when the real magic begins, and I've witnessed it many times.
We ask for the stupid idea in our innovation work with teams. The mantra we use is, “The really innovative idea is on the other side of the stupid one.”
Why Stupid Ideas Matter
Almost all five-year-olds are geniuses, but only a small number of adults are. This suggests something important about how we think and create. The most effective way to solve problems creatively wasn't something someone invented. Instead it was observed naturally in problem solving settings. It's something we naturally have. However, as we grow up, we unlearn how to use it.
Children don’t fear having stupid ideas. They have them all the time. That’s why they usually start out hyper-creative, geniuses in fact. But things like fear of judgment and wanting to fit in inhibit our natural creativity by the time we’re adults. Many workplaces are filled with these types of barriers to creativity. To truly encourage new ideas, companies need more than just new methods or tools. They need to change the way people think and work together.
Curiosity and Learning as Crucial Executive Leadership Traits
If you start to think of creativity as crucial to problem solving, as the Nasa study video above does, then it become a powerhouse executive trait too. Here are two exec’s speaking to this idea of exploring ideas, being curious and learning as crucial to executive function.
Jeff Bezos on Curiosity & Invention
Mark Cuban on the Importance of Curiosity & Learning
I love seeing that curiosity and learning are getting more attention as important traits. But that's just the first step. Learning is a good habit and makes a strong foundation, but many people stop there. This means their learning doesn't go far. Think about these questions: Do you have a learning plan with clear goals? Do you pick the best sources to learn from? How do you add new knowledge to what you already know? How do you use what you've learned? Can you learn through your organization? What can you start to make learning better there?
Investing time in these areas is key to personal growth. Imagine learning as a bicycle; it's useful for getting around. But focused and goal-driven learning is like a rocket, taking you much further. Without setting clear goals and having a strategy, it's easy to get stuck. It's not just about collecting information; it's about using it in a way that makes sense and drives action. To make real progress, it's important to actively work on integrating and applying what you've learned.
Until next week,
Kendall -
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