Overcoming Innovation Hesitation
Stuck in a creativity rut? Bust these things holding you back from your best ideas.
Have you ever hesitated to share an idea at work, convinced you just weren't "creative enough" to solve a tough challenge? If so, you're not alone.
In our 15 years teaching innovation and creative problem-solving—from Stanford and Harvard classrooms to leading global companies—we've seen this kind of hesitation everywhere. We call it Innovation Hesitation, and it holds people back more than you might think.
Innovation Hesitation comes in three main forms:
The Creativity Gap: This is the false belief that creativity is a rare gift reserved for a few special people. We've asked thousands of professionals, "Raise your hand if you consider yourself creative or an innovator." Typically, fewer than 10% do. Yet, nearly every elementary school child eagerly raises their hand. Over time, social expectations and rigid structures erode our natural creative confidence.
Innovation Mythology: Ever thought innovation only happens in special places filled with 3D printers, sticky notes, and whiteboards? Or that it takes a lone genius with a sudden "Eureka!" moment? These myths distort our view of innovation, making it seem unreachable. In reality, innovation happens everywhere, often quietly and incrementally.
Cognitive Caution: Our brains naturally avoid uncertainty and risk, often holding us back from pursuing new ideas. Consider Kodak, which famously dismissed the digital camera because it threatened their successful film business, eventually leading to bankruptcy. This caution is common—we all instinctively favor familiarity over risk and uncertainty.
The good news is that anyone can overcome these barriers. Innovation isn't reserved for the special few. Cognitive science confirms that creativity and innovation are skills you can develop and strengthen, just like muscles.
Navigating Innovation with the Innovation Compass
We developed the Innovation Compass to help people confidently navigate through their hesitation and find their creative confidence. Unlike a rigid process, the Innovation Compass is flexible—it adapts to the real-world uncertainty of creative problem-solving. It has three practical components: Mindsets, Moves, and Metacognition.
Mindsets are the lenses you use to view challenges in a different light. They encompass perspectives such as curiosity, empathy, and resilience. Choosing the right mindset helps you identify opportunities where others see obstacles.
Moves are small, actionable steps you take to test and refine your ideas. Moves help you maintain momentum, learn quickly from real-world feedback, and keep moving forward even when things aren't perfectly clear.
Metacognition is the act of reflecting on your own thinking process. By stepping back to ask, "What worked here? What didn't?" you continuously improve your approach and avoid getting stuck in old habits.
Getting Started: Overcoming Your Innovation Hesitation
If you're facing hesitation or self-doubt, remember: innovation isn't magic; it's a method. In less than ten minutes here are three concrete steps that you can take today to start overcoming your Innovation Hesitation:
Take one small, scrappy step. Think of a problem you have been trying to solve, at work or in life. Now set a 10-minute timer and move it forward: draft the first slide, sketch the rough idea, write the first paragraph, send the first email. Take one step.
Bust your own innovation myths. Jot down three beliefs you hold about creativity and innovation. They might be something like“I’m not the creative one,” “Innovation takes big funding,” “Innovation happens by lone geniuses.” Now name a moment from your life or work, or evidence from the world that proves each one wrong.
Reflect and recalibrate. Open a note or grab a sticky. Make two columns: “Working well” and “Needs a tweak.” Think about your last week and how you work, collaborate, and plan. Write three items in each. Then pick one tweak to try this week.
When you embrace this approach, innovation becomes an everyday practice, not just an occasional event. By taking those first small steps and continuously reflecting on what's working, you'll gradually build the habits and confidence to tackle even your most daunting goals.
So what are you waiting for? It's time to start overcoming your Innovation Hesitation and unlock your full creative potential. Preorder Innovation-ish at www.innovationish.com or anywhere books are sold.