Become an Everyday Innovator

The idea that innovation can only happen on a large scale through grand ideas that disrupt entire industries is a myth that stymies creativity. Instead, tech entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and New York Times best-selling author Josh Linkner says it’s often small, simple ideas that have a lasting impact. He calls these big little breakthroughs, and they’re what associations need more of to evolve in our rapidly changing world.

Times of crisis are difficult – no one is arguing with that – but they also create opportunity for us to throw out old ways of doing things. Don’t believe it? Just think, innovative giants like Disney, FedEx, Trader Joe’s, MTV, Uber and Zoom were all either founded or saw exponential growth in the midst of periods of economic and societal crisis.

Linkner says that proves that now is the exact right time to focus on today’s challenges with human creativity and ingenuity. By encouraging creative thinking and risk taking as part of your association’s culture, you give yourself an edge over those who choose to remain stagnant.

Develop creativity yourself and within your association much like you would build any other skill: Practice … and practice often. Fear is the single biggest creativity blocker, so create a safe environment where all ideas are celebrated, and failures are viewed through the lens of lessons learned. Every member of your team has a specific job title, but they should also think of themselves as artists in their field who can stoke the creative flames at any time.

In what other ways can you embrace creative thinking and problem solving at your association? Start by adopting the five obsessions of everyday innovators, which Linkner shared at ASAE’s 2020 Technology Exploration Conference (TEC):

Five Obsessions of Everyday Innovators

1. Start before you’re ready.

Don’t wait for permission or a perfectly formed idea. (You’ll be waiting forever if you do that.)

2. Break it to fix it.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is terrible advice. It’s our responsibility to deconstruct and upgrade our current products and processes to continually improve.

3. Use every drop of toothpaste.

It is possible to do more with less – and we’re all having to these days – through resourcefulness and ingenuity. “We don’t have enough (enough time, enough money, enough resources, enough staff … the list is endless)” can too easily be used as an excuse. Instead, bold innovators look at what they have available and use to their advantage to evolve and grow.

4. Reach for weird.

It’s easy to gravitate toward what we know works – but reaching for those obscure, bizarre ideas and bringing them to the surface could make the difference.

5. Don’t forget the dinner mint.

Before we hit send on that next email or launch that next new member benefit, consider what special touch that, if added, would make your work transcend all expectations. This is also known as the 95-5 doctrine (coined by Will Guidara of NYC’s Eleven Madison Park restaurant). Spend 95% of your resources on what’s required, and then use the remaining 5% in creative and unexpected – some would even say foolish and irresponsible – ways.

Innovation is often associated with risk, and that is true, but the true risk lies in standing still, because that is when we become irrelevant or disappear. Instead of waiting for the next big idea, allow your association to focus on small innovations – those big little breakthroughs – that will drive future success.

About The Author

Sarah Sain, CAE, is director of content, member communications for Naylor Association Solutions. She can be reached at [email protected].