How innovative are you?

The first step to becoming a leader lies in the willingness to welcome change, stand out and nurture one’s curiosity.

Whether it’s Marie Curie for her ground-breaking research on radioactivity or Bill Gates for building a giant of a software that is unparalleled to this day, being an innovator can also be more than creating something new.

The word innovation conjures up images of a cool gadget or a quirky creation. So, on what terms can you break new ground and when is that supposed to happen? If your answer to that is today and every day, then you are absolutely right. Innovation isn’t just implemented for the generation of a new product, but also for birthing a new process, a thought, a bit of knowledge and even the packaging of all these entities. Innovators are essentially explorers of countless opportunities and possibilities. If the mere spark of an idea can lead to the creation of a timeless software, so can a humdrum procedure be redesigned and modified into a new approach.

Speaking of devising new approaches, this is one of those innovative activities that is meant to change the procedure of seeking jobs as we know it.

The key factor here is to stand out, which is easier said than done. This is the moment when you truly begin your research, an age-old activity that has always helped in the process of standing out. In your journey towards acquiring a coveted position in an organisation of your choice, you may have come up with quite a few innovative ideas to appear different and become visible. If your research isn’t thorough enough, it will all be for nothing if you have no viable intelligence on the organisation and the people that you are trying to impress. This is how you can be innovative in your research and your approach as well.

Right questions

Perhaps this can be considered as Phase 1 of your reconnaissance process. Research on the company you want to apply to will unearth a variety of information unique to that particular company as well as knowledge on your predecessors’ qualifications to help you match or even boost yourself in those areas.

Not only will this help you seem in tune with the organisation's wants and needs but it will also put you on their radar, which is the ultimate goal.

Break away from the single-page-resume trend and tap into the technology surrounding you. Make a short video about yourself explaining why anyone should hire you. If that’s too much or not enough, digitise your resume on a single personal webpage with a compact and catchy graphical presentation, for images.

For images speak more than words, and you can make that work for you.

The proces of innovation doesn't just stop once you have been hired. Now you’ve got the task of standing out amidst a team of equals and superiors while helping your organisation grow. Here, being innovative isn’t about a single person being compelled to come up with new ideas constantly.

Innovation must gather at a single spot but from multiple sources, be it external or internal.

As an individual employee what you must do now is be proactive and take the initiative to voice your ideas and opinions if you come across something interesting. It is vital to remember that this process of sharing doesn’t mean that you give up your individual thought.

Communication from your end will help people recognise your talent and help you add value to numerous brain-storming sessions. This way, you revamp yourself and your team.

As an innovator, you are to constantly welcome change, where your curiosity will lead to persistence and that would inadvertently lead to rising above the constant doubts and disruption with a single solid idea, a sure-fire sign of a future leader. But first, it all starts with standing out and nurturing your curiosity.

Source | The Hindu | 24 June 2015