The Innovative Mindset: 5 Behaviors for Accelerating Breakthroughs

by John Sweeney, Elena Imaretska

Overview

Redefine what it means to be innovative

The Innovative Mindset calls the accepted definition of innovation into question, urging you to consider how innovation might function as a behavior that you perpetuate, rather than an inflexible theory or corporate-defined initiative. By asking yourself what it takes to be innovative—and by being honest with yourself about the answer—you can incorporate innovation into your life much in the same way that you would a behavior to help you lose weight, increase your strength, learn to play the piano, or improve your relationships. This groundbreaking text helps you identify what you need to do in order to become more innovative and less fearful, and assists in creating a regimen that transforms how you act.

Innovation has become one of the most popular buzz words of the Digital Age, and there is no better time to reevaluate the true meaning of a concept than when it is being touted by individuals and companies around the world. A fresh, practical understanding of innovation can revolutionize the way you think about work.

• Master innovation by reexamining what it means and how you can implement it as a behavior
• Explore the transformative power of the Mindset of Discovery in poignant, up-to-date case studies and improvisation-based tenets
• Spark innovation, maximize productivity, and increase profitability as a result of implementing the Big Five behaviors
• Boost performance as you foster and leverage your new approach towards innovation

The Innovative Mindset reevaluates the nature of innovation and shows how a change in perspective can lead to more dynamic, more successful endeavors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781119161288
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	10/26/2015
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

JOHN SWEENEY is the co-owner and executive producer of the Brave New Workshop, America’s oldest satirical comedy theatre. He uses his 20+ years of improvisational performance, speaking and training to influence human behavior and to create simple but groundbreaking tools that have ignited cultures of innovative behavior within such companies as Microsoft, PWC, General Mills, and UnitedHealth Group.

ELENA IMARETSKA is vice president of New Products, Partnerships, and Sustainability for the corporate speaking and training business of the Brave New Workshop. She is the architect of the learning model and core curriculum of the organization’s offerings and has spent the past 8 years optimizing the business application of the improvisational approach to innovating, collaborating, and leading.

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Table of Contents

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xi

1 Behavioral Innovation: Remembering the Human 1

2 The Brave New Workshop: A Journey of Fear and Discovery 11

3 The Mindset of Discovery: Improvisational Roots 23

4 The Art of Practice 31

5 The Mindset of Fear 41

6 The Anatomy of the Mindset of Discovery 57

7 Building Your Innovation Fitness Plan 77

8 Listening 93

9 Deferring Judgment 109

10 Declaring 119

11 Reframing 139

12 Jumping In 153

13 The Desire for Change 177

References 187

Index 191